91. break down the wall (2)

Count Agon’s mansion, the entrance to the dungeon.

Opening a wooden door that occupies the middle of the stone floor of the manor’s cellar reveals Murat, the entrance to the dungeon of the manor house. A cold chill was creeping up through the lattice of the bars that firmly blocked the entrance.

“I’m sure you’re keeping an eye on it.”

“Yes. We’re monitoring it to make sure it never gets out.”

I don’t know if I can afford to think about getting out in the first place. The soldier added little. A bundle of brass keys clattered in his hand.

The dungeon, filled with dust and the smell of mold, has opened its entrance for the first time in a long time. Tension lingered in the expression of the soldier holding a brass lantern and guiding the count. Count Agon’s expression, standing behind the soldier, was stiff like never before.

What did the person responsible for making the Count’s expression so benevolent do?

The soldier was curious for a moment, but he was able to quickly erase the thought from his head, perhaps because of an unknown man staring at him from the side of the count. His face was obscured by the hood, but the soldier was sure he was staring at him.

‘What kind of gaze is that sharp?’

The hardened voice of Count Agon commanded the soldier who was internally fed up.

“Open it.”

The soldier straightened his expression and rummaged through the keychain. In his hand was a long, long key that looked like a ridiculously tall key that opened and closed the door. There was a rattling sound for a moment, and then the bars creaked open.

“Give me the key.”

The soldier handed the key bundle to the count with worried eyes. Then, looking around, I handed the lantern to the man behind me. The man said nothing and took the lantern and stepped into the dungeon first.

“Go back first.”

“… Are you okay?”

the soldier asked anxiously. The Count nodded. The count’s hardened expression said a lot.

“It’s fine.”

“If anything happens, please call us.”

The soldier turned around and left the basement. Count Agon looked down at the dungeon, where only the brass lights flickered little by little. Maxim, a knight of the Royal Palace Guards, was standing in the middle of the stairs, waiting for the Count to come down.

“I made you wait.”

“Fine.”

Maxim glanced at the lantern at his feet. The stairs of the dungeon descended deep and twisted into a spiral. Even if the light shined at first glance, the end could not be measured. The Count glanced down into the deep darkness and spoke as if warning the knight.

“You’ll have to explain exactly how this happened.”

The bell tower of the church was damaged, and traces of destruction were left everywhere on the roofs of the buildings along the market street. There was bloodshed in the streets, Irina’s escort driver was transported with blood on his head, and the person he was carrying as a guest was almost kidnapped.

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Not even while he was away, while he was wide awake at the top of the territory. Count Agon’s eyes were burning with quiet rage.

“You will find out soon.”

The article answered that. The darkness was getting deeper. In the midst of the light hanging from the wall, the light was lost, and the remaining lamps were shaking dangerously. The cool, damp wind against my face seemed to intensify, and soon the spiral staircase came to an end, revealing a wide pupil.

In the middle of the pupil, there were soldiers guarding the gate, which seemed to be about twice the height of an adult man. The Count took the lead and straddled toward the door. The sound of the Count’s shoes echoing loudly in his pupils.

“Count.”

The door leading to the hallway lined with prisons, the two soldiers guarding the door saw Count Agon walking down the stairs and saluted. The count waved his hand, saying the salute was over.

“Who is the prisoner?”

“I’m stuck barely hidden. There are two more watching inside.”

The soldier glanced at the door to the prison and said.

“I don’t know what kind of ghost-like person was doing it, but he really hacked his body just enough to keep him from dying. It was to the extent that a military doctor stopped by and stuck out his tongue. The knight who transported the prisoner admired his sword skills when he saw the scars on his body.”

At that point, Count Agon glanced at Maxim, the knight next to him. The two knights, who said it was not my business, just stayed calm.

“… Right. Will you open the door?”

At the count’s command, the soldiers stepped aside and began to unlock the door. The unoiled iron creaked terribly. The expression of the soldier opening the door frowned at the sound of brass scraping directly over the nerves in his ears.

The heavy iron door opened slowly. Torches were wasted in the thin air of the dungeon. The lantern, which emitted light as small as pellets, swayed and cast out shadows. The Count and Maxim walked through a corridor lined with bars and reached the room where the spy was imprisoned. The soldiers, who were glaring at the prisoner inside with the momentum to kill them, relaxed their expressions and retreated as the count approached.

“As you say.”

The Count clicked his tongue when he saw the prisoner limp with both arms handcuffed.

“I see what you mean about being one step away from dying.”

Perhaps all the tendons and muscles in his limbs had been severed, and even though he was conscious, the prisoner was unable to properly control his limbs. His whole body was wrapped in bandages, but red blood was still oozing out from places. A terrible bloody smell wafted through the musty smell of the dungeon.

“Are you going to explain or interrogate and show me?”

The Count turned to Maxim and asked.

“How about both of you?”

“… Do what you like.”

The Count ordered the soldiers to open the bars. When the bars opened with the same annoying sound, the bowed prisoner raised his head.

“Kuhh… , Why did the Countess come to a place like this ha… .”

The prisoner’s attitude of trying to keep his composure even in front of the Count became precarious as soon as he saw the person standing next to the Count as if it were the light of a lantern illuminating the cell.

“you… ! you… !”

Was it anger or fear? As Maxim took a step forward, he seemed to be close to fear as he forcibly struggled with his immovable limbs.

“It’s good that you did that.”

“I wonder if he was with the count… ! nonsense… ! I’ve never heard of Count Agon raising a monster like you!”

“Think of it to your liking.”

As Maxim approached, there was not even a hint of anger left on the prisoner’s face. All that remains is pure fear. Seeing the dramatic change, the count spat out a low voice.

snap.

The knight’s hand grabbed the hair without hesitation. As I raised my head violently, those trembling eyes reflected on the count.

“What did Leon Benning intend to do by sending you guys all this way?”

The open jaw was shaking. The count’s eyes lit up as if he would remember every inch of the interrogation that had begun.

“I… , would you say that It was easy to catch me… .”

The spy’s words did not last long. It was because Count Agon was shaking his head with an expression as if steam was leaking, and he was looking at him as if he was wondering what the knight was doing.

The spy started to think about what he had done wrong with his head still not working. The answer came from the Count even before the spy could derive it himself.

“To send such fools as spies, how much Count Leon Benning looked down on our territory and on me.”

“It’s not that this guy is stupid. Rather than that, it would be more like just being paralyzed by fear and becoming stupid.”

In the end, the spy’s face turned to embarrassment when he realized that Beninga had said the same thing as admitting to himself that he had sent him. In return, Count Agon’s expression began to burn with more vivid flames of anger.

“There is nothing more to hear. I even think that I got hold of it for no reason. It’s my fault for not clearing up my suspicions towards you.”

“You don’t have to apologize. Rather, it is fortunate that this happened and the doubt was cleared.”

Count Agon’s eyes caught the spy. Then he turned his head towards Maxim. Maxim continued stroking the pommel of the sword.

“I made up my mind. The author… , There will be no regrets if it is dealt with on the spot.”

“If Leon Bening is blatantly arguing with me this far, I don’t think it makes sense to let me live.”

A huge weight was placed on the weight plate of death, the balance between life and death. The spy was perplexed and spat out words.

“Wait, wait… ! I will be useful Count Leon Benning wanted to plant a spy here in Murat, in the no man’s land. Since we have decided to establish a contact network here, I can conversely provide information confusion over there.”

“All the other spies are dead and you’re living alone, so what’s the use?”

The sword was pulled out of Maxim’s scabbard. The spy mobilized every part of his body that could move and began to struggle. Of course, that struggle also subsided after the sword was placed over his shoulder, as if it had never happened before.

“I think you guys will be able to do it all right… .”

Before the spy could finish his sentence, a blade slashed through his throat. Wow. Through the gap in his neck, blood gushed out like a waterfall, soaking the floor. The sound of leaking air that could not be heard became a fountain of blood on the cut surface, and blood dripped.

“It would have been quite embarrassing if things had happened as planned over there.”

The Count looked down at the breathless spy and said.

“The benefactor’s guest must have been kidnapped, and the shadow of Leon Benning must have lurked in the estate. I would have held the adventurer’s guild responsible for the kidnapping without knowing that Benning had done all of this.”

With a bitter voice, the count calmly told the truth.

“Don’t say thank you. You saved me once.”

“Thanks to Your Majesty’s wisdom for sending me here, what I did wasn’t great.”

Maxim was consistent with an attitude befitting a knight of the Royal Guard Knights. The count made an expression of admiration at that blunt answer.

“It’s just that, if the Count has made up his mind about this, I’ll just consider that I’ve done my duty.”

“Go to my mansion to talk about the details.”

The Count turned his back and left the dungeon. The blood seemed to become sticky and stick to the skin. The soldiers swallowed dry saliva as they watched the Count and Hood’s knight come out of the window with determined expressions.

“… What should I do with that corpse?”

The Count replied in an infinitely cold voice.

“Throw it as food for the monsters.”

—

Yeongji, which was infested with the turmoil in the afternoon, seemed to have regained some composure at night. Most of the bloody scenes took place out of sight of the locals, so the biggest topic of conversation was the bell tower of the broken church.

When the hour comes, the bell tower that tells the time is silent, and the streets at night are also quiet. Count Agon greeted Maxim, who came to his office with a tired expression. Maxim, taking off his hood, was back in the form of Arsene Vern, with black hair, black eyes, and a scar across his nose.

“I apologize for inevitably destroying the street.”

When Maxim apologized and cut off the rush, the count shook his head.

“… Please do not claim compensation separately.”

A long sigh escaped his mouth.

“I have not forgotten the grace of His Majesty for providing resources to rebuild the territory at a low price. And Sir Arsene, considering what you have done for me and this estate, it is only a bell tower and a few roofs. It was cheap.”

“Thank you for the grace.”

“It’s okay to say thank you… , You should have seen my wife, who heard about this.”

Count Agon was properly experiencing the aftereffects of telling his wife the whole story. The count himself was grateful to Marion for bringing vitality to the estate and mansion, but Irina cared for Marion almost as if she were her own daughter.

‘… kidnap?’

That’s why, the count himself had to deal with her demon-like anger when he heard the news. Matters are settled, Marion is bedridden. Irina tried to pour out the anger that had no place to pour out by finding the culprit.

‘Leon Benning, that cheeky snake-eyed… !’

After dozens of minutes of harsh words she never expected to hear again in her lifetime, Irina stood opposite Leon Bening and actively supported her husband’s decision to be with the royal family, more than herself who made that decision.

‘You made a very good decision. Dare to touch that child… ?’

That’s how Irina Agon sharpened the invisible knife. The Count, who was barely able to escape her wrath on the pretext of doing his housework, smiled dejectedly and confessed the fact to Maxim as if complaining. Maxim narrowed his eyes as he suddenly had to listen to the head of the family’s complaint.

When the Count, who had been complaining in the midst of his grievances, caught Maxim’s expression, he cleared his throat and straightened his posture.

“this. It’s been too much chatter.”

“Fine.”

“Well, as you heard, I will support Her Highness, the First Princess, following Her Majesty’s plan. The sooner this happens, the better.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

The Count’s eyes lit up.

“Therefore, I will go to the no-man’s land myself and meet the Marquis so that you don’t waste too much time in the east.”

“… Are you speaking directly from the Count?”

Maxim was surprised, and the count smiled.

“The Marquis is a very stubborn warrior. You may be able to convince me easily, but if I go through this and that myself and convince you, it will save a lot of time.”

“Are you okay? Yeongji… .”

“Nothing to worry about. Benning’s attempt failed this time, so they won’t be able to reach east for a while. Rather, Benning will try to focus on the work of the center without turning his eyes outside for the time being. That’s why you have to hurry back to the royal capital.”

It would be of great help if a knight of your caliber could help His Majesty from the center. muttered the Count.

“Lastly, I will send someone to the capital first. I think it would be a good idea to position your forces on the side of the 1st princess or the 1st prince so that Benning doesn’t do anything stupid.”

“Excellent judgment.”

Maxim nodded his head in agreement.

“If we move ahead of the upper management’s schedule, the other side will be caught off guard too. It’s obvious that you’re thinking of doing things together with the merchants.”

“Then, tomorrow I will send people and wagons to accompany you to the royal road, so we can move together.”

“I will.”

Maxim answered briefly and stood up from his seat. Perhaps the sight of him disappearing without a trace is now familiar, the Count looked at the spot where Maxim had disappeared and said to himself,

“… I hope you don’t panic too much when you see that number.”

—

“… He’s such a selfish guy from start to finish.”

Early in the morning, Maxim was greeting Pierre at the entrance of the inn. When Pierre heard that he was forced to return first due to a schedule, at first he went on a rampage. Of course, when Maxim brought up the fact that he had captured all the spies hiding in the merchant procession, he quickly became quiet, but his frown did not go away.

“I’m sorry.”

“If you know you’re sorry, you shouldn’t do that.”

Pierre, who answered unevenly, still held out his right hand. Maxim smiled and shook Pierre’s rough hand.

“Thank you for catching those who were hiding. Somehow, since that day, the manor has been considerate of us to the extent of passing by.”

“There is no threat of being stabbed in the back, so you can come and go comfortably.”

“Okay, stop being condescending.”

Pierre still had a small smile on his lips.

“If you need help in the Royal Capital, find me at the guild, Pierre Fabien. No matter what happens, I will make sure that I can help you unconditionally once.”

“That word, you should remember it well.”

Maxim let go of his hand and said that. Looking at the lips that arced slightly under the hood, Pierre thought that he had said something in vain.

“Then, I’m done.”

“When you return from your schedule, show your face to the guild.”

“If only I could.”

Maxim quickly vacated the seat, leaving Pierre behind. A cold autumn wind blew. It’s only one success. Maxim sharpened his mind. It took some time for this blade to reach Leon Benning’s throat.

In order to do that, we must first return to the royal capital.

Maxim looked at the carriage in front of him. The coachman hurriedly jumped from the coachman’s seat and approached Maxim when Maxim showed signs of being.

“Oops, are you here?”

“… I didn’t really want to be treated like this.”

When Maxim unknowingly made such a noise, the coachman smiled kindly and guided Maxim to the carriage. It was a wagon that could be synonymous with a merchant’s carriage, with two horses pulling a fairly large caravan.

“Go inside. The count asked me to tell him that he was sorry that he couldn’t take you comfortably because of the circumstances.”

“Fine.”

Maxim said briefly and lifted the caravan’s fabric and went inside. And then I had no choice but to put on a dumbfounded expression.

“hello.”

What Maxim encountered in the caravan was a female knight whom he had met somewhere, and two men who appeared to be knights of the count’s family, and

“Are you here?”

It was Marion Bordain, wearing the black mask Maxim had given her.