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Among the data left by Resina, there were parts that Aptel could not access.
Data viewable only by Resina herself, now destined to remain forever unseen.
Some of these locked portions were unlocked as certain conditions were met.
The exact unlock conditions remained unclear. However, it was certain that the final keyword for unlocking was “Resina.”
The moment Ray mentioned “Resina,” the locks were released.
Through the unlocked data, Aptel learned that her base personality stemmed from Resina.
She also discovered what the nature of the still-locked data was, and the hidden mission assigned by Resina.
Ray relayed this information to Aptel before addressing the Count.
“Resina prepared a contingency plan for her comrades who would falter.”
For you, who will lose your past, for you who will eventually become a lonely fool and fade away.
It was the last gift prepared by the great mage who didn’t believe in miracles but hoped for one far in the future.
“…”
Upon hearing Ray’s words, the Count wore a troubled expression.
“I’ve heard Resina didn’t get along well with the other heroes.”
“Well, even so, she was once their comrade, wasn’t she? Guess even rivals can grow fond of each other.”
“Yes, that seems to have been the case.”
Nodding his head, the Count gazed at the collapsed mountain, revealing a complex mix of emotions.
“…You occasionally place me in difficult situations.”
The Count was merely protecting Titi as part of an ancestral vow passed down through generations.
He neither wanted to sacrifice more for Titi nor did he wish to pass on the burden of Titi to Alesya.
Sighing deeply, the Count continued.
“According to what you say, isn’t it true that Resina’s contingency plan can only be used if the curse is lifted?”
“That’s correct.”
“Even the heroes of old couldn’t accomplish this.”
“Indeed.”
Ray furrowed his brow.
Whenever he thought about the curse consuming Titi, his expression naturally turned grim.
If only the curse tied to the World Tree could be lifted, stability might return to the Count’s Territory, and issues like Ulte’s corruption could be resolved all at once.
“It’s been 600 years; shouldn’t the World Tree forgive Resina and withdraw its curse already?” Ray muttered.
But clearly, things wouldn’t resolve so easily.
“Why don’t we just burn the World Tree?”
At Ray’s absurd suggestion, the Count chuckled lightly.
“Do you know what the World Tree truly is before making such statements?”
“It’s just a big tree, right?”
“Hahaha…”
Shaking his head, the Count knew Ray wasn’t ignorant but rather thinking boldly, with the capability to act on such thoughts.
However, burning the World Tree was both unacceptable and impossible.
“Find another way.”
“Another way…”
As the Count smiled faintly, Ray grumbled to himself.
If Resina committed a sin, how grave must it have been to warrant such torment?
Resina’s crime was solely taking ‘Genesis’ without permission and using it to save the world.
“Is that really such a grave offense? Enough to suffer for over 600 years?”
Comparing Resina’s actions to Earth’s past life, it was akin to a U.S. soldier commandeering a Seawolf-class nuclear submarine meant for homeland defense.
“…Wouldn’t that drive the World Tree mad?”
While Ray blinked, the Count asked,
“Is the interrogation of the elf who infiltrated the estate still ongoing?”
“Oh, we’ve extracted everything we can.”
“…That was quick.”
The Count had expected it to take several days to obtain reliable information, given the need to wear down someone’s mental defenses.
A proper knight would likely have taken longer, perhaps even weeks, but the subject was an elf searching for her mother.
When threatened with becoming a deaf elf, the intruder quickly caved.
“The elf seemed completely unprepared for interrogation. She spilled everything almost immediately.”
“Could it be a deception?”
“Hmm…”
Ray pondered for a moment.
Miner was a skilled sharpshooter whose presence was nearly undetectable even to knights at the Expert level.
Her exceptional skills likely shielded her from direct threats during missions, meaning her psychological resilience might not match her physical prowess.
Given her usual role attacking enemies from afar, it made sense her mental fortitude was weaker than expected.
“It didn’t feel like deception. If you’re worried, why not examine the elf yourself?”
“Very well. Once all possible information has been secured, the elf must be executed.”
The Count said this matter-of-factly.
There was no reason to show mercy to an elf who had invaded the Count’s Territory and attacked its residents first.
She was, after all, a criminal guilty of serious offenses.
No sympathy would be extended, even if she claimed to be looking for her parents.
“Uh… My Lord.”
Ray scratched his temple awkwardly.
“There’s something else you should know.”
*
On the way back to the Manor, Ray reported to the Count about the information obtained from interrogating Miner.
Miner’s employer: Duke Matthias.
Objective: To recruit Johanna by persuading her.
Mission: Conduct a general survey of Phillip’s County and investigate Johanna’s relationships.
Support personnel exist for Miner, but she alone infiltrated Phillip’s County directly.
“To summarize, that’s the gist of it.”
Duke Matthias hadn’t orchestrated anything overly malicious.
He hadn’t ordered harm against Phillip’s County; sending Miner was purely for reconnaissance prior to recruitment.
However, such schemes shouldn’t come to light.
Moreover, Miner had attempted to kill Matthew to cover her tracks, though it was her independent judgment.
Regardless, Duke Matthias couldn’t escape responsibility.
Count Philip felt his headache worsening.
Ideally, he wanted to execute the elf who had wreaked havoc in his territory, but complications arose immediately.
“Ray, repeat that.”
“This elf captured seems to be a direct descendant of Resina.”
“Are you sure?”
“Most likely.”
During the interrogation, Miner had tearfully recounted her life story while whining.
Though intended to evoke sympathy, it became tiresome for the listener.
Regardless of how unfortunate Miner’s life may have been, neither Ray nor the Count would have blinked.
What mattered was her lineage.
“So… It seems she’s Resina’s great-granddaughter.”
Miner claimed she suffered discrimination from her own kind due to her bloodline.
Later, she pleaded for mercy, citing that she was a descendant of the elven hero who saved humanity.
Such pleas would have fallen on deaf ears elsewhere.
But here, in Phillip’s County, it was different. Miner was fortunate.
Count Philip sighed deeply.
“Hmm…”
To honor the ancestral vow to protect Resina, Count Philip had long strived to uphold it.
The vow originally pertained only to Resina herself, but executing one of her few direct descendants wouldn’t sit well with him.
Yet letting Miner go wasn’t an option either—she knew too much.
And dealing with Miner wouldn’t solve all the problems either.
Miner’s disappearance would imply the presence of high-level forces within the Phillips family capable of suppressing her.
Once rumors spread, they’d be hard to contain.
Any attempt by Count Philip to hide the truth with flimsy excuses would only invite more scrutiny.
“We’re in a bind.”
After Jenkins and Didier revealed themselves in Osiris Countdom, Count Philip had planned to lay low for a while.
Capturing Miner forced him to alter those plans entirely.
‘Must send Mohamed to the Imperial Capital before things escalate further…’
Nobles with titles and territories must report to the royal court when hiring soldiers.
This law was somewhat archaic.
Recruiting common soldiers or Expert-level Knights didn’t require individual reports to the royal court.
But Graduate-level warriors were another matter entirely.
They were, after all, armies unto themselves.
From this point onward, reporting to the royal court became mandatory.
If any Expert-level Knight under one’s command advanced to the next level, it also required immediate reporting.
The later such reports were filed, the bigger the problem grew.
Though Mohamed had reached the Graduate level long ago, others wouldn’t have known until now.
His emergence needed to be announced to dispel suspicion.
This would attract heightened vigilance and interest compared to before.
With such concerns weighing on his mind, the Count headed toward the detention chamber.
Beyond the soundproof barrier, the cries of the imprisoned elf could be heard immediately.
“I’m sorry! Please spare me! Huh-huh-huh…”
Miner excelled at one thing: whining convincingly.
Her eyes were swollen from crying.
Seeing her pitiful state, the Count decided to trust her testimony.
“My Lord, you’ve arrived.”
Jenkins bowed respectfully to the Count.
“I’ll compile and report the details of the interrogation.”
“Understood.”
“S-spare me!”
Miner recognized the Count and screamed.
“I-I’ve told you everything I know. Please let me live. I-I know nothing…! I saw nothing!”
Is this how the descendant of a hero behaves?
The Count’s emotions grew even more complicated as he closed his eyes briefly, then reopened them.
“Ray.”
“Yes, my Lord. What are your orders?”
“Cut off her ears first.”
“Understood.”
Before Miner could grasp the conversation, Ray approached her with his sword drawn, prompting her to scream.
“Kyyyyaaaaa!!!”
*
Duke Matthias sat stiffly in his study.
Out of nowhere, the Phillips family had sent a parcel containing a letter.
Not long after sending a scout to Phillips County, this unexpected package arrived, and the Duke instinctively knew something had gone wrong.
Especially troubling was the grim expressions of the Mage and Knight who had opened the box for safety checks.
Whatever was inside, it wasn’t jewels.
Slowly opening the box, Duke Matthias’s expression twisted.
Inside lay severed elf ears.
“…”
Swallowing his curses, the Duke unfolded the accompanying letter from Phillips County.
Summarizing the contents of the letter, written with impeccable noble etiquette:
Don’t cross the line.
“What nonsense has gotten into him?”
Duke Matthias muttered, momentarily forgetting his dignity.
Festival (1)
