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Chapter 54 - Invitation
The hearts of the ears did not turn overnight.
It had to be looked at with an open heart.
Even if you change your mind in at least half a year, it will be a huge loss.
I’ll leave the bird to the bird.
Cassion smiled at that moment.
“I see. I’ll tell Dion.”
“Give it to me.”
I should have received a reply since I wrote a letter.
I had written a letter to Serti Shio asking her to buy time, or to just prevent her father from joining hands with the second prince, and I wrote another letter to Corrence Lumina, warning him that the second prince was not the prince he supported.
If I’ve said this much, then the reply I should get in return is the answer I wanted.
[I’m going to risk my heart to stop him.]
Serti’s answer was clear

[It’ll be hard to get out of the way, but I will try to get out of the way as much as I can.]
Corrence’s answer was a bit vague.
But he was under the oath of mana, so he’ll act in moderation.
Ruel handed the letter back to Cassion.
“I’m leaving after eating. Get ready.”
“Yes, I will prepare.”
—Where are you going?
Leo pricked up his ears.
As soon as he was about to say he was going to kill a rat, Ruel fixed his language.
“I have to meet someone.”
—This body will follow you. This body must protect Ruel.
“Yes.”
Leo smiled even at Ruel’s grim answer.
***
I said I didn’t need a see-off because I wanted to go out quietly, but Cheynol, Tyson, and Drianna were standing in front of the main entrance of the castle.
“Aren’t you all busy? I guess I gave you too little work to do.”
“It doesn’t matter whether I was busy or free when you’re on your way out. I’m going to see you off as a representative of the Knights. I ask for your understanding.”
“It’s the same for me. I’m going to see you off as a representative of the Knights of Magic.”
Drianna grinned, tailing Cheynol’s words.
“What about uncle?”
“As an uncle, I’ll see you off. You’ve been out a lot lately.”
Even though I’ve been quiet for a week.
In bewilderment, Ruel looked at Tyson approaching him.
“Don’t overdo it. Call me when you’re in danger. Whoever it is, your uncle will kill them.”
The last few words were said in a quiet whisper.
However, the thorn in the words was so sharp that Ruel swallowed dry saliva without realizing it.
“I’m sorry to say this again, but don’t overdo it.”
Soon after, Tyson smiled kindly.
At that smile, Ruel smiled as well.
“Yes, I won’t overdo it.”
“Then that’s fine. I look forward to your kind cooperation, Aris.”
“Yes, don’t worry.”
Aris bowed his head lightly.
The boy, who had not come out of his room in a while, visited Ruel’s room today and spoke proudly.
That he had passed the wall.
I don’t know if it’s because he had passed the wall, but Aris had grown taller.
‘I eat more than him though.’
Ruel checked the appearance of Aris, who had become strong, and got into the carriage.
“Are you nervous?”
When Aris got into the carriage, Ruel asked him the same question he had asked the day he first took Aris as an escort.
“I’m not nervous.”
The answer was different. The look in his eyes was different, too.
There was a sense of strong conviction in his tone.
“This time, I’m fine. I’m confident that I’ll do better than ever.”
“Yes.”
Ruel replied indifferently.
If you don’t feel anxious, that’s fine.
Aris opened his mouth before Ruel closed his eyes while smoothing Leo’s fur.
“Ruel-nim, have you moved your Mana recently?”
“Why?”
“The amount of mana in you has increased.”
“Really?”
—Lately, Ruel has been doing something. He’s been moving something resembling Ruel and vomited blood—
Ruel grabbed Leo’s mouth because he was babbling.
“Leo, your mouth is too light.”
—Eup-eup!
Leo struggled, but Ruel didn’t intend to let go easily.
“I already know. Ruel-nim moves mana and casts shadows using magic.”
Cassion said calmly.
It was Aris who was surprised.
“Do you use
magic? Are you okay though? I was told your body would break doing so.”
Aris was shocked when he heard that from Tyson.
Does it make sense that a person becomes broken?
But Tyson was more serious than ever.
Since there was no word to exactly express it, Aris could not understand even if it was explained using several different words.
However, he was quite aware of what he meant when Ruel used more mana than his level of resistance.
“That’s right, if you saw the situation yourself, you would only remember that word.”
Cassion frowned slightly as if he remembered that day.
“I’ll be careful, so don’t worry.”
Since that was the most unreliable phrase, Cassion and Aris hardened their expressions.
It was a face that clearly knew what he was going to do.
Ruel made a face and laughed.
“You should take a good look at Ruel-nim, Aris. A newly learned sword is the most ignorant.”
“What?”
At Cassion’s obvious sarcastic remarks, Ruel stopped touching Leo.
“I didn’t mean that Ruel-nim is ignorant.”
Cassion smiled.
“You’re very bold.”
“How could I be?”
“I’ll do my best. Don’t worry, Mr. Cassion.”
Aris clenched his fist solemnly.
—You don’t have to worry. This body will protect Ruel!
He didn’t know what was going on, but Leo said in a proud voice because he felt worried about Ruel.
“You guys seem to be having fun.”
Ruel snorted at them and inhaled Breath.
***
Liberan was currently in a state closer to living in seclusion.
Therefore, it was very simple to meet.
I’ve already laid the groundwork.
He had no choice but to take the bait.
“Tell him I’m here for the debt.”
Ruel coughed and spoke to the soldier guarding the doors.
When I had met Ketlan, the lord of Prios, I had thrown an excuse.
“Remember this. You and I met today because I needed to borrow money from you.”
Ketlan would have told Liberan the way they’d discussed.
Ruel inhaled Breath.
Out of the barons of Prios, only Liberan remained.
How anxious he must be.
I couldn’t get through those doors with words alone, so I showed the guard the text.
“Please wait a minute, my lord.”
The soldier hurried into the mansion.
“Why don’t we wait in the carriage.”
Cassion pointed to the carriage.
“No, I’ll wait here.”
I came to visit the barons.
Ruel did not wait in the carriage despite the cold winter weather.
If Liberan hears of this, he may die of pleasure.
It would have been announced that it was the bandits who killed the barons of Prios, but Liberan would not believe it.
Who is the most suspicious person in this situation?
‘Ketlan Prios.’
Currently, Ruel was in a place where he had come to borrow money from Ketlan and had been rebuked.
Liberan is well aware of the financial situation because he tried to devour Setiria through Plane.
Liberan knows that Plane has given Setiria drugs to make things worse.
And Ruel himself came to Liberan.
He was sure that this situation would be useful.
A person who only knows how to stab others in the back could only think like that.
Seeing Leo hanging onto the window, Ruel told Leo to wait.
Liberan rushed out with the guard who had entered the mansion earlier.
‘Wow, it’s the big fish. Big fish.’
He didn’t even think that Liberan would come out to see him, so the corners of Ruel’s lips went up.
“I greet the Lord of Setiria. This humble man is called Liberan.”
“Let’s go inside first. I’ve been waiting for a long time, and it’s a little cold.”
“Yes, yes, I’ll take you. Please come this way.”
***
Although it seemed as if he had not slept recently, judging by the bags under his eyes and his dry skin, Liberan smiling so brightly.
So Ruel went along with him and smiled.
For Liberan, who is so excited about how to use Ruel without knowing his place, Ruel opened his mouth as soon as he entered the room.
“Hey.”
Liberan’s expression turned cold at the sudden words.
Something was strange.
Ruel’s lips went up high looking at the expression that showed he wasn’t sure what was going on.
“Have you been having fun? Letting the rats loose on other people’s land and filling your stomach to your heart’s content?”
Liberan’s eyes grew bigger.
“Feed it to him.”
As soon as the order was given, Liberan was swallowing something before he knew it.
He didn’t even know what came and went.
“It’s poison.”
Ruel shook a bottle that appeared to be an antidote in his hand.
“Wouldn’t it be better to rot in prison than to die? What you have to do is simple. Answer my question.”
“Please, please, spare me!”
“Incorrect.”
Ruel walked leisurely and sat down.
Without speaking, Aris slapped the man in his face.
Slap.
A sharp sound resonated.
“What’s your relationship with the Red Ash?”
Liberan didn’t even feel pain when Ruel calmly asked.
“P, Plane
”
“Of course, it’s a fake report. He’s no longer needed. Today’s report is probably the last one. Come on, answer me. I have a little more time today.”
Ruel coughed and smiled.
The smile couldn’t look any scarier.
“Answer.”
After waiting three seconds, Aris’ hand slapped Liberan again.
Liberan felt his ears go deaf and his body soon stumbled down.
“Argh!”
Then suddenly a violent pain came.
He shuddered and looked where the pain had come from.
A sword was lodged in the back of his hand.
The boy with an innocent face spoke out clearly.
“Didn’t you hear him asking you to answer?”
I will die.
At the thought, Liberan moved his mouth in a hurry.
“They told me that the owner of Prios wasn’t of direct blood line and they told me to have Prios. They supported me with money and people.”
“Why?”
“I
”
Because of the pain he felt for the first time, Liberan made a crying face and began to shed tears.
“I’ve always wanted Prios. They appeared as if they were beings similar to god and made such demands of me.”
“In exchange for what?”
For a moment, Liberan’s tears stopped.
Instead of answering, he looked at Ruel.
Ruel inhaled Breath and asked nonchalantly.
“What?”
“Th, they said you should die. They said that the great first step begins only when you die. I, I swear I don’t know what that great first step is. I mean it. Trust me.”
Liberan sobbed as he spoke.
“Who’s the person above you?”
“There is no one. There really isn’t. The only order I’ve been given is to take over Prios. Really. Ta, taking over Setiria with drugs was a belated order!”
“Was it related to my father’s accident five years ago?”
Gulp.
Liberan began to tremble as if he had entered the winter sea.
Ruel’s impression was crumpled.
Dion said the accident happened because the birds betrayed him.
As expected, it wasn’t just a matter of betrayal.
“Who else is involved?”
“I, I, I don’t know. I was only in charge of the information leaked to the ears of Setiria. I don’t know who else is involved because we never see each other!”
“Why did such an order come?”
“I, I heard that the lord discovered the identity of the Red Ash. While he was evacuating you
”
Liberan managed to catch his breath and spoke again.
“There
was an accident, and there were so many people watching that they were unable to deal with you.”
‘That’s when this disease came about.’
Ruel raised the corners of his mouth.
Liberan closed his eyes tightly at the same time.
“Do you know about the curse?”
Liberan’s shoulders flinched.
“I mean, I was actually very healthy. But five years ago, strangely, I got sick, a very bad disease.”
Ruel laughed lightly.
“Isn’t the timing too good? I thought about it, and the only people who could make me like this was the Red Ash.”
Bang!
As Ruel hit the desk, he looked at Liberan coldly.
“Tell me what you know, Liberan!”
“Red Ash! The Red Ash did it!”
Liberan’s heavy breathing was heard after that sentence.
He wept and looked at Ruel despairingly, looking at the sword stuck in his hand.
“But I, I didn’t do it! I honestly don’t know if it’s a curse or not. Be, believe me!
All I’ve ever heard is
that the great first step begins once the lord is dead! Please, please believe me!”
“Who!”
“The one who kidnapped the Lord is P, Plane! You must have seen them!”
Ruel wrinkled his face.
Plane died today.
The infection of the wound had grown worse and he died as a result.
I came to feel upset.
“Would Plane have reported to you?”
“They weren’t my subordinate back then! It’s true!”
Ruel’s long sigh was heard.
What a pity for Plane’s death.
“Give me all the data on the Red Ash.”
Even though I received the data through my agent, it wouldn’t matter as much as the data Liberan kept.
When Ruel looked at Aris, Aris took out his sword at once.
Liberan hurried to his bed without any time to feel pain.
After tapping something, a secret passage came out from under the bed.
“He-Here it is. All of them, but I’m just at the end of the line. Honestly, I, I don’t know if there is any data you want.”
“You take the lead first.”
“Yes, yes!”
Liberan clasped his bleeding hand and went down the stairs.
He was followed by Cassion, Ruel, and Aris.
“Nobleman, nobleman! Yes, noble! I heard one of the nobles was working with the Red Ash! If he had planted a disease in the Lord, it must be him!”
In order to live, Liberan spoke about things he wasn’t even asked for.
‘
a noble.’
For now, Shio, Lumina, and Prios were excluded.
I made them do the oath of heart, so I can ask them directly or make them talk.
‘Are the remaining ones Kuhn and the Liobenez family?’
Ruel went down the stairs one step at a time and was lost in thought.
“The Red Ash works for the great one. Honestly, I’m not interested in that. All I wanted was power and money.”
“What do you mean by the great one?”
When Ruel became interested, Liberan smiled broadly, overcoming the pain.
The more they knew you have a lot of information, the longer they’ll keep you alive.
But oh no.
The more Liberan struggled, the more his life was close to its end in Ruel’s eyes.
“They are who the Red Ash follows. The real name has never been revealed.”
Something that I don’t know came out again.
Ruel slightly wrinkled his face.
It was only after going down the last stairs that Ruel inhaled Breath.
Liberan rushed deep inside and gathered the data in one place.
“You don’t seem to have much to earn.”
Cassion opened his mouth and spoke in a low voice.
“Yeah, there’s no information I want.”
I wanted to check whether the disease was a curse or not.
But the answer I got in return was too vague.
“It must be useless data anyway, but it’s like collecting evidence.”
“And we will take him away.”
“The leader of the bandits must be Liberan.”
Liberan, who was collecting data excitedly, turned to the sound of his mention.
“I see. I will prepare it well.”
Cassion smiled brightly once after a long time.