The Pride Of Noble [Part 3]

 

“Count Courtenay must have thought that he could not keep his long-standing dealings with the demons hidden. He thought that the Church had found out. That is why he fought and fell. That way, he could keep his house alive. I think that was his calculation.

If the Inquisition were to take him to court, the family would be thrown out in a joint sitting, and the house would be demolished. However, in a case like this, we can expect reciprocal support from the aristocratic families of the capital.

Even the commoner servants whom they say he protected were selected and probably had served the Courtenay family for many years and received benefits from them. He must have been prepared for his own death. The next generation of counts would be rewarded for their loyalty, and their bereaved families would be well compensated. According to reports from those who inspected the scene, there were signs that the servants had fought as well.

And the Count himself was prepared, and fought fiercely. Even after losing both of his arms, it seems that he fought on for quite some time.”

Some time after the Courtenay family incident, Al asked Yoel for more details about the incident and how it happened.

 

The Count’s intentions. The survival of the family. Avoidance of the Inquisition. Mutual support among the aristocratic families in the capital.

 

For all these reasons, the Count “Became a hero who died protecting his servants from the ‘unknown bandit’, fought.”…… From Al’s point of view, everything may have been planned.

 

“I don’t know Count Courtenay, and he’s not what I would consider prepared, but I respect …… the way he fought to the end. He is a mad warrior who is as good as Falconer. And as for those who followed him. I’m not talking about good and bad, though. Well, if I had actually met him, I might have wanted to smack him for being a rotten city aristocrat…”

Yoel laughs at Al’s words.

“The handling of demon slaves, illegal human trafficking, corruption, numerous plots against the Gorton family and other families, bribery of Knights, support of underworld criminal organizations… etc.

The reality of the Count is the category of corrupt city aristocrats that Mister Al is talking about. No. Nowadays, the previous Count Courtenay bequeathed his name as one who showed the pride of being a nobleman. On top of avoiding the Inquisition.

There were many other suspicions as well, not only demon-related, but those of the knights who had been pursuing him were told the result was that he “Escaped brilliantly” I hear that they were quite disappointed.

The previous Count turned the board over in his final days. With his life and his fight.

Naturally, the next Count Courtenay, his successor, would see such an image of his father and think. ‘Next time, I must be more careful.’ …… That is the strength of the noble families of the capital.”

“I see. Survival of the family ……The battle of the noblemen of the capital. …… A battle that cannot be decided by simple strong, weak, alive or dead. ……In the end, it’s no longer about swaying the Courtenay family.”

“Yes. For now. Perhaps the Count’s enemy this time is the “enemy” as Claire says. It was probably an organization of demons who were deceiving the open war faction. From the kingdom’s point of view, they are obviously insolent people. Even though the previous count may have had some knowledge or intention, the result was that he fought against the “enemy of the kingdom” and was defeated. Even though they knew the situation to some extent, other aristocratic families in the capital would, as is customary, spread the previous count’s past sins. The church would have no choice but to back down. Perhaps they will not go so far as to judge the former Count himself as an enemy of the kingdom and a heretic.

Pity for their enemies, too, if you ask me. After using each other so much, they became accessories to the last flower arrangement of the previous Count Courtenay. Well, it’s a blow to us, too, that we’ve lost the lead on them and it’s harder to track them down.”

After all, if we only look at the results, the previous Count Courtenay won alone.

Although he had not read all the way down to Al’s movements, Eden had invited a rupture with Signe and the others.

 

The previous Count had drawn a picture of this time since the time he was sniffed out by the church, and had been working toward it.

In other words, the girls had been fished out by Eden Courtenay and were dancing on his hands with fishhooks attached, even before Signe planned to take care of those who had caught wind of their presence.

 

Incidentally, although Al has no way of knowing it, there is a story that the Courtenay family was decisively suspected by the Knights Templar of “a certain transaction site” near the abandoned church.

****

“Ah, yes, Yoel-dono. This is a bit off topic, but is there anyone who is a master of the sacred arts who might be able to assist me in investigating my ability to sense black mana? I’m not sure if I can detect that sludge-like black mana by alone, but it’s better than nothing, and I’d like to check it out properly.”

“Oh. If that is the case, Master Victor has been talking to me about it. If you have made the acquaintance of the Gorton family this time, perhaps you could turn to them for help.”

There was also movement on the scrutiny of Al’s sensing function as an ‘apostle’, although the royal shadow …… is actually Claire’s direction.

However, it is only unofficial that Al is an “apostle”. Then, he should just rely on his own aristocratic family members to convey the message. Throwing it all in. Victor’s frustration is also slightly reflected in this.

“The Gortons? Certainly I have exchanged glances with Lords Cerian and Conrad. ……?”

“It is not surprising that Lord Al does not know this, but the Gorton family traditionally placed great emphasis on the medical arts. They also have a deep knowledge of recovery magic and the sacred arts. Naturally, we have connections with such people.

And although I don’t know how much the sickbed-ridden Lord Cerian has heard, the Gorton family is one of those who support the “Divine Child” positively, as Lord Al had predicted. If you let them know that you are an “apostle,” they will make arrangements for you. To that extent, it is said to be acceptable to use the information of an “apostle.”

The Gorton family is an ancient noble family that specializes in healing magic.

Although it is a different lineage from the Church’s secret “sacred arts,” the Gorton family is said to have inherited a “special recovery magic” that can even restore missing parts. For this reason, they have always been close to the church, and have been in contact with it. It is not a territorial dispute, but a friendly rivalry between the two.

“Oh, I see what you mean. Well, then, I’ll make a proposal to Lord Conrad.”

Al learned about one of the battles of the capital aristocracy, but that’s it. He works his way. Understanding and respecting the other side does not change his own fight.