Chapter 83 - Cromwell Staviana (3)

["Adopt Ilea as your daughter."]

Yohan's unexpected proposal plunged the drawing room into silence. No one spoke. The Count merely took a handkerchief from his coat and busied himself wiping the moisture from his clothes.

The silence did not last long.

"Hic!"

A hiccup rang out. Ilea clapped a hand over her mouth.

"I-I'm just a little taken aback."

The Count spoke with a calm expression.

"It seems the two of you have yet to agree on this."

Yohan nodded.

"I only just decided."

He had been considering whether to send Ilea to the Count's house as an adopted daughter. He simply hadn't reached a decision. The Count had arrived in the south far sooner than Yohan expected, leaving him no time to make up his mind.

Ilea lowered her head slightly.

"This is very sudden."

Her cheeks were faintly flushed.

Yohan said, "If you really dislike the idea, you can refuse. I have no intention of forcing you."

Ilea immediately waved her hands.

"No, I'd like that. No, rather than liking it, I mean it's a sensible thing to do. Yes. It's a good idea."

She was rather flustered and rambling. He seemed to be seeing this uncharacteristic side of her more often lately.

Yohan spoke.

"Well, as long as you're all right with it, it benefits us in several ways."

Ilea gave a faint smile.

"I'm in favor."

Her reaction was more positive than he had expected.

'I thought she'd refuse.'

That spared him the trouble of persuading her. Yohan was pleased.

Still wiping his clothes, the Count said, "Do I have no say in this? Adopting a daughter hardly seems relevant to making you a sovereign duke."

The Count was right. The adoption had little to do with Yohan obtaining the title of sovereign duke. There were three main reasons he wanted Ilea adopted.

First, to keep watch over the Count and guard against him. The Count was a coolheaded strategist. He might be bowing his head now, but someday he would try to turn the tables. Yohan needed someone in place beforehand to prepare for that.

Second, he intended to enroll Ilea in the Holy Capital Seminary. Students there learned holy magic, and its graduates were immediately assigned positions as high-ranking priests. Ilea might even come to be revered as a saintess. Her magical talent was second to none.

In the original novel, Ilea had also spent time posing as a high-ranking priest. Having her follow the same path this time would greatly benefit Yohan. The connections she would build among the clergy were an extremely valuable resource.

To gain that advantage, she needed the backing of the Count's house. Only nobles could attend the Holy Capital Seminary. The moment Ilea became the Count's adopted daughter, that problem would be neatly resolved.

Third, to prepare for what came after Yeriyan's resurrection. Once Yeriyan returned to life, the Count would probably turn his back on Yohan. He had already made some preparations for that. Third Prince Gawain and the knight Kembel were among them.

But they would not be enough. He would need a decisive blow, and Ilea could provide it. If she married Yohan as the Count's adopted daughter, that would tie the Count's hands to some extent. It could even lay the groundwork for swallowing up his house.

Thus, "Ilea de Staviana" would bring Yohan countless advantages. Now that she had agreed, he had no further reservations.

He told the Count, "Naturally, you have no choice, but there is something in it for you."

"And what is that?"

"I'll resolve your problem with the Fell God Society."

The Count had promised the Fell God Society the Third Holy Grail, but he could no longer fulfill that promise. He had failed to obtain the Miyatro domain, and thus had no means of acquiring the Third Holy Grail. It was kept in the baronial house's forbidden library.

The Count asked, "Do you intend to hand over the Grail?"

Yohan chuckled.

"It's a Class Two holy relic, no less. It would be wasted on those vermin."

"Then how do you propose to resolve this?"

"I'll root the Fell God Society out of your domain. And beyond that, I'll destroy the Society itself."

The Count no longer needed the Fell God Society. Yohan was the one who would bring Yeriyan back. Now the Society was nothing more than a liability.

The Count looked at Ilea.

"With this mage's power?"

It would be easy for Ilea. Yohan nodded.

"Yes. But 'this mage'? Be a little more affectionate. She's your daughter now."

The Count gazed at Ilea for a moment before speaking.

"Do not expect my support. My knights have little involvement with Deathshadow."

The Count's house did have several knights of outstanding martial prowess. Most knew nothing about Deathshadow. No, they knew, but pretended otherwise. Living with their eyes shut to what was before them—that was how the Count's knights showed their loyalty.

Yohan said, "Don't worry. Ilea is more than capable of doing it alone."

The Count looked doubtful. Hakain spoke.

"I can vouch for that. Your Excellency, she is no ordinary mage. She is an archmage."

After a brief pause, the Count spoke.

"Regardless, I find this puzzling. Why would you seek to destroy the Fell God Society? Has the Apostle agreed to this as well?"

The more followers an Apostle had, the stronger they became. Their offerings served to elevate the Apostle's stature. Yet he meant to slaughter those precious followers. The Count could hardly understand it.

Yohan said, "We have no need for a pack of vermin like the Fell God Society. They're nothing but cheap, defective goods. Their worship only diminishes the Apostle's stature. Everything I'm telling you is the Apostle's will."

The Count folded his arms.

"Listening to you, one might think you were claiming to be the Apostle yourself. Perhaps those uncanny eyes of yours are merely giving me that impression. May I ask you a very personal question?"

The Great Saint's eyes were stirring a strange sense of awe toward Yohan in the Count.

Yohan said, "Well, I'll answer if I can."

The Count's gaze sharpened.

"What are you, really?"

Yohan looked out the window. There was still quite some time before sunset. Tapping the armrest with his index finger, he said, "Would you believe me if I told you?"

Ilea stared at him and murmured, "Yohan."

Revealing his identity was a decision that required careful thought.

The Count said, "... That would depend on what you told me."

Yohan abruptly leaned forward. Their gazes met at close quarters. Slowly, he spoke.

"I am the Apostle."

His lips stretched into a wide smile. The Count's eyebrows twitched, but he showed no other outward sign of agitation.

The Count said calmly, "You take your jokes too far."

Yohan shrugged and settled back in his chair.

"Demons do enjoy a joke."

The Count waved a hand as though he had had enough.

"Any further conversation would be a waste of time."

"Why stop asking questions?"

"I doubt I will get a meaningful answer out of you."

Yohan rose with a chuckle.

"Then let's leave it there for today. I'll take it that you're adopting Ilea."

The Count had no right to refuse anyway. He would probably scheme on his own, but escaping Yohan's grasp would be no easy matter. Yohan knew most of the cards he held.

The Count also rose.

"Will you let me see Yeriyan now?"

Yohan nodded.

"A promise is a promise. Wait here a moment."

He headed straight for the forbidden library.

* * *

Yeriyan's remains were kept in an ordinary wooden coffin. The Count knelt before it, murmuring something for a long time. He was probably whispering words of love.

Meanwhile, Yohan explained everything that had happened to Gaf. Everything except sending Ilea away as an adopted daughter. That was a matter best discussed later. If he learned of it now, he might throw another fit. Gaf had something else to focus on for the moment.

Gaf frowned as he listened.

"You really do work me like a slave."

"Do me this favor. We're partners, aren't we?"

Gaf was to escort the Count to Veldana. His original escort, Hakain, would be detained in the barony for a while.

Grumbling, Gaf approached the Count. He muttered gruffly, "I wish I had a chance too. To bring my wife back."

The Count looked back.

"Did you lose your wife as well?"

"It's been over ten years now."

Gaf had lost his wife and all his comrades to a Demon.

"... I see."

"You're a fortunate man, Count. That boy Yohan may be slippery, but he doesn't make empty promises. Your wife really will come back to life."

The Count looked at Yohan, who merely shrugged.

The Count said to Gaf, "We should be on our way."

He could not afford to linger. He had to attend the meeting in the royal capital and carry out Yohan's instructions. He would need to move quickly to avoid being late.

He rose from his knees. Gathering the Count's luggage, Gaf said, "Come down to the ground floor. I'll be waiting."

After a glance at Yohan, the Count left the drawing room.

* * *

One by one, flames sprang to life underground. Dim light filled the dark library. Hakain's face grew grim.

"Are you planning to torture me down here?"

Anyone could see that the library was a gloomy, ominous place. Traces of demonic energy lingered throughout, and a faint smell of blood crept through the air. The Sword Fiend's keen senses kept warning him to leave this place at once.

Ilea's eyes curved in a smile.

"Why would I waste my time on something as pointless as torture? Experiments, on the other hand..."

Hakain swallowed hard. He had seen mages perform countless experiments. Truly horrific memories remained etched in his mind. Better to kill himself than live as a test subject.

Ilea slowly approached him. Hakain backed away with an awkward smile.

"W-wait a moment. Let's talk this out."

"Specimens don't talk."

Just as she reached out a menacing hand, Yohan's voice rang out.

"Stop tormenting him. I have something to discuss with him."

Ilea smiled sweetly and patted Hakain's shoulder.

"I'm joking. Why so tense?"

Hakain let out a sigh of relief and looked at Yohan.

"Something to discuss? With me?"

Yohan nodded.

"I need you to..."

He never finished his sentence. His figure suddenly vanished. An eerie voice sounded from the air above.

"The sun must have set."

Hakain immediately looked up. He collapsed to the floor, unable to hide his shock.

"Y-you're...!"

A monstrous being was slowly descending. His red eyes gleamed fiercely. A chilling voice rang out.

"Hakain, Sword Fiend. There is something you must do."

Hakain immediately seized his sword hilt. Ilea's cold voice reached him.

"Going to draw it again?"

Hakain did not dare draw his sword. Maphel’tan crouched in front of him.

"Teach me swordsmanship."