Chapter 158

Chapter 158 - A Shadow from Another World

"Are you going to step forward for the subjugation?"

Rex had an expression that looked completely unenthusiastic even at a glance.

"What is it? It's the hunting you like so much."

The one who visited Eugene almost every other day and pestered him to go out to the mountains and fields was Rex. Like a puppy biting a leash and begging to go for a walk.

"Hunting also depends on the hunt. I'd like to decline the Hydra. It's dangerous just from its weight class, but its regenerative power is kick-ass, plus poison also doesn't work well on it."

Rex spoke while counting on his fingers one by one.

"And how disgusting is the sticky substance secreted on its skin? It's even fire-resistant, so it doesn't catch fire easily either."

"I can tell why knights suffered and suffered to chase it away."

For trolls alone, thanks to their unique physique and regenerative power, fighting them 1-on-1 is treated as a crazy act. Imposing a check by shooting crossbows while encircled by a large army and killing them with fire is the standard tactic.

The Hydra is essentially a superior compatible version of the troll in both weight class and regenerative power, while even lacking the weakness of fire.

"Still, it's troublesome to refuse. They say it's heading toward this place."

"It's said to be heading toward Catania right now, but there's still distance. It can change direction in the middle however much it wants. Because wandering monsters live however they please at that moment. With the level of a Hydra, its intelligence is also high, so it knows well that a large city is dangerous."

"You're saying it'll go elsewhere if it gets close to the city?"

"It's fine to make a bet. Let's bet 200,000 credits on it not coming to this city."

Seeing him bet money falling slightly short of a participation weekly wage, he seems extremely confident.

"Sorry, but I've already decided. Whether it comes or not, I will hunt that guy."

Eugene still lacks in many ways to be called a great noble. However, in Sicily, he is explicitly in the position of a ruler.

Although there is nominally a higher Bishop-Count, the Meyer family is the leader whether in military power, economic power, or symbolism.

He has a duty to take the lead in situations such as large-scale foreign invasions or monster outbreaks that a single family cannot resolve. Furthermore, the region where his vassals are distributed is also a danger zone.

"Are you saying it's the duty of a high-ranking noble? The title is nice, but it's tiring."

"It's not exactly just out of a sense of duty either. I'm not going to bury my bones on this island, and I will head out into the world again sooner or later. My mind will be at ease if I eliminate the risk factors right now."

Above all, it was a good opportunity to completely erase the color of an invader.

Although Eugene took native nobles as vassals, built good diplomatic relations, and is carrying out good governance, there are individuals who are hostile.

If he subjugates a monster that is a longstanding danger and enemy of Sicily, no one will be able to raise objections to the authority of the Meyer family.

"Even so, wouldn't the bastards going to pull dirty tricks pull them when the knight sir vacates his seat?"

"They'll probably worry at least 3 more times. That's sufficient. As long as they don't unite in numbers, it should be sufficiently possible to defend while hunkering down in the cities."

The available military power on the island was reduced to half of usual, and there is no central figure. Messina, where factions from the peninsula frequently come and go, will be defended on its own, and there is no worry about defending the castles of Palermo and Catania either.

"The problem is that I have to catch it for free."

Eugene pondered with a serious face while crossing his arms.

"No, Sir Knight."

To nonchalantly decide to fight a dangerous monster of the Hydra's level, yet show such an attitude towards not receiving a reward fee.

"Even just the Hydra's corpse alone can grasp an enormous amount of money."

"The Minor Chief's words are correct. Aren't you the master of a city complete with the Alchemist Guild and the Tanner Guild, including a trading port? You'll be able to receive its full value without a slight loss."

"Spoils of war are spoils of war, and an advance payment is an advance payment."

The comfort from the two didn't have much effect. What made Eugene's complexion brighten was a chest brought by an envoy from the Apostle State.

"Your Excellency's diligence in defeating monsters at the frontline of humanity. That is a paragon for all people. Please accept these Talents. It is a token of gratitude sent by the religious orders."

"Wouldn't a true holy war be a fight against monsters? The war against the former Count was merely an unfortunate process!"

"It is truly reliable!"

Unlike nobles who couldn't propose compensation no matter how much they beat around the bush, the Apostle State was thorough in this aspect.

Because they had realized long ago that demanding something solely with faith in a world ruled by the logic of power is a foolish act.

After the envoy with a satisfied face returned, Eugene opened the chest. It's fully packed with silver coins engraved with the appearance of an ascetic saint.

"It is my first time seeing Talents. Since they said they were immensely precious, I thought they were gold coins, but it's unexpected."

Rex picked up a Talent. As a born warrior he likely didn't know, but Eugene felt the divine energy dwelling within the silver coin.

"It's not an ordinary silver coin. It's a divine coin minted mixed with a saint's bone ashes."

Talents are local currency used only among religious orders affiliated with the Apostle State. Even secular monarchs can hire people or buy divine items from the religious orders with Talents.

The targets vary, reaching up to the Holy Knights, high-ranking priests who have manifested miracles, potions, and legal ritual armaments.

Talents are not something you can buy just because you have money. It was a rare reward given only as compensation for good deeds acknowledged by the religious orders.

"This amount of Talents wouldn't even be in the Roman Royal Family. If you possess it, there will be instances to use it usefully for your future. But it isn't an amount to pay for a subjugation of this level."

"Wouldn't it mean they are that anxious to stabilize the newly acquired Bishopric territory? Even if this place is a strategic point for trade, isn't it the periphery in the world of knights and monarchs?"

"That is true too. They likely wouldn't be able to find an army that would come down this far to catch a Hydra."

There aren't many organizations equipped with the strength to catch a Hydra. They paid attention to the Roman civil war where they could earn money closer and more easily.

"Since military force is sufficient, I don't need the Holy Knights' help, and I am thinking of purchasing the replica holy relic I saw last time if push comes to shove."

Since the world is chaotic, unclean monsters can break out as much as possible. In such a situation, even if it's a replica, if he can use the power of a holy relic, it would be extremely useful.

"You don't seem to know very well how diverse the things you can do with Talents are."

"Yes?"

"This can literally buy everything related to the religious orders. It's also possible to buy an indulgence guaranteed by the Apostle State when committing a crime. Because precedents already exist too."

"...Doesn't that get cursed at by the public?"

Indulgences are engraved in Eugene's memory as a symbol of corruption. To think the Apostle State, which seemed to operate quite solidly, was selling them.

"If it was something you could buy with gold, there would have been a lot of talk. However, it is a right you can only buy with Talents given for justifiable good deeds. There are almost none that are abused. You have truly received a precious treasure."

"I definitely must request mediation from the Apostle State with this if I happen to stand trial later."

When Eugene announced joining the subjugation, the native nobles of Sicily also cheered. Even if he was a nightmare-like existence when met as an enemy, there could be no one more reliable as an ally.

- Have you seen that person, no, that Viscount fighting on the battlefield? We will finally be able to kill this damn Hydra too.

- How much have we suffered from it crawling out and causing a ruckus whenever we've just about forgotten it.

- If it were the former Count, he would have shut his mouth and done nothing, but he is definitely different. To step forward immediately.

Just by this perception spreading, half of what Eugene wished for was essentially achieved.

* * *

Valda remained behind for the reception of the nobles as the prospective lady of the house, and Marbas is stabilizing the city as Eugene's plenipotentiary representative in Palermo.

The troops mobilized for the subjugation operation under the banner of the Meyer family were about 300 elite soldiers.

"Sir Knight. This is something I've been curious about since before, but..."

Watching the flapping flag, Rex asked.

"What is it?"

"A family's flag, I mean. Is it okay to change it so carelessly like that?"

The flag Eugene used all along was a coat of arms directly transferring the Meyer family's signet ring.

However, using the Sicilyn expedition as a starting point, he abolished the existing flag and announced a new flag. Thanks to that, the dyehouses and weaving workshops in Catania are busy making dozens of flags.

"It's merely a symbol anyway. Why wouldn't I be able to change it?"

"Because the ones who risk their lives on that symbol are nobles. Even when I was active in Roman, all sorts of useless duels would happen because of a flag. Like accidentally spitting in the direction of the flag, or mistakenly knocking the flag over."

Everyone knew that Eugene was practical unlike other knights, but treating even the family's coat of arms as no big deal was outside common sense.

"Conversely speaking, since it's that hard to change, right now must be the optimal time. Big changes must be done before the organization gets larger for there to be less confusion."

"So what does that flag mean?"

Generally, the coat of arms of noble families abbreviated the logic of the world, or utilized castles, ships, animals, monsters, etc.

However, Meyer's new coat of arms was unique. A bow whose body is composed of wings. Lightning is hung on the bowstring, and it's decorated with interlocking cogs around it.

"The wings and lightning symbolize the Moving Castle, the shape of the bow symbolizes the Elves and military force, and the cogs symbolize the Dwarves and technology."

"Us... you mean?"

At the unexpected meaning, Rex's face was dyed with profound emotion. To think he would engrave their clan on the family crest.

"But do you absolutely have to include the symbol of the Dwarves?"

"Wouldn't the Hammer Brotherhood friends feel disappointed if I left it out?"

"Unlike us who entrusted the fate of our clan, those guys are merely in a contractual relationship. They might leave later when the contract ends."

Rex spoke with an uncharacteristically stubborn face.

The sight of exclusively their own race being engraved on the Meyer family's flag. The greed toward that was sweet enough to momentarily seize loyalty in the Minor Chief's heart.

"Then I'll just make it mean solely technology, whatever."

"..."

"Military force and technology. These two are the two major values my family will pursue for a lifetime. To research, to explore, and to accept those possessing appropriate talents. I'd like everyone to keep that behavioral principle in mind whenever they look at the flag."

Eugene had no intention of hanging a flag merely for the purpose of advertising the family. He wanted everyone under him to harbor and practice the vision he presented, keeping it in mind.

"Ugh."

However, Rex continuously looked at the flag with a disappointed face. It seemed difficult to discard his monopolistic desire this time.

* * *

The day began to grow dark.

"We camp here. Decurions, draft personnel for guard duty."

Since they had already matched coordination countless times, not a single person idled their hands. Tents in the nomadic style were erected, drainage ditches were dug, and cooking began.

"If you don't want your ankles shattered, don't pass around this way."

The female warriors under Cassandra set up traps around the campsite where beasts or monsters were likely to come.

"Oh my, older sisters! Are we traveling together just once or twice? We know all that much."

"It's gross, so don't call us older sisters ever again."

Arrows don't work on the Hydra, but thrown weapon attacks filled with hazardous materials are effective. Befitting rangers who display world-class skill in throwing techniques, they joined the subjugation.

Meanwhile, the Dwarf warriors were building a watchtower, which is a dedicated seat for Homi. Since it's built by Dwarves and even has a fluffy fur pelt laid out, it's extremely convenient.

"Would this height be enough?"

Homi, hugging a pillow, nodded her head.

Given her status, Homi is fundamentally exempt from guard duty.

However, her sensitive senses detect the approach of risk factors even while sleeping. Since it was a waste to let that rot, Homi slept on the outskirts every time they camped.

- If that's the case, how about we just make a dedicated watchtower for the retainer? Adjusting it to the optimal height that's good for detecting smells and sounds and advantageous for observation.

Homi gladly accepted the suggestion of a certain Dwarf decurion, and the campsite construction doctrine also came to include the installation of her dedicated seat.

Meanwhile, Eugene examined the Hell Axe. Cassandra watched with interest by his side.

"That's what the large ghoul we encountered during the castle purification operation was swinging, right?"

"Yeah. The shape of the handle was different at that time, though."

The axe blade, with an ample size for one capable man to use as a bed, is incredibly vicious. It looks ready to slice even typical medium-sized monsters into two halves.

And befitting a weapon of hell, that is not all. Cassandra, an outstanding witch, saw something fluctuating clearly on the surface of the dark axe blade.

That was pure viciousness. As if a puddle, it was pooled here and there on the dark axe blade.

"I heard that sometimes spirits dwell in weapons harboring mysteries. Could this also be that kind of type?"

Cassandra's hand spread across the surface of the axe blade as if warming herself by a stove.

"I can hardly feel anything that could be called reason. It's like a clump of pure emotion. It feels as if a destructive instinct has taken form."

"Because it's a guy born from the bottom of hell. Even negative emotions possess something called weight."

"Could you tell me a little more?"

That Eugene rescued Marbas from the embers of hell is a famous story within the Blackhand Tribe.

If the tribe's warriors are attracted to Eugene's military force, the witches were fascinated by the mystery of the otherworld he harbored.

Apart from political reasons, Cassandra liked sharing such stories with Eugene.

Eugene also didn't dislike faintly seeing the shadow of his mother in the appearance of a witch she showed.

"Emotions like jealousy and greed are light. Therefore, they exist in the upper levels even in hell. It is an emotion primarily taken by corrupted mages or witches who sold their souls that much."

"I know that. There is a reason why the representative image symbolizing a cult is an orgy."

That is neither a stereotype nor propaganda from the religious orders. Because what the existences of the otherworld primarily propose as a carrot and tempt with is pleasure based on desire.

Even though it was a somewhat embarrassing word, Cassandra didn't bat an eye. Because to her, a witch, it's likely an academic story.

"However, the deeper you go into hell, the more intense emotions are condensed. A representative one is anger. It's the reason humans cannot peek into the abyss of the otherworld while maintaining a human mind. That's essentially like diving deep into the seabed thousands of meters below with a bare body."

"In other words, this weapon is an existence born in that terrible pressure."

"It's purely a guess."

Similar to carbon being reborn as a diamond upon receiving massive pressure.

Couldn't this metal and the spirit dwelling inside also have been created by condensing and condensing in the abyss of hell? That was Eugene's thought.

Subordinates passing by glanced at it. Because even if they didn't know mysteries, they were attracted by the magical power the axe blade exuded. Cassandra, who noticed that, spoke worriedly.

"Isn't this dangerous? Because it essentially equals a sort of magic sword. The kind that tempts people and possesses the beholder with madness."

"Is there a problem even if they're possessed?"

"Well, wouldn't someone secretly take this and run amok... Ah!"

"That's if they can pick it up and swing it."

Cassandra's face blushed toward Eugene gesturing with a 'Be my guest!' posture. Because she missed something too simple.

"In actuality, some of the Dwarf blacksmiths repairing this were possessed. However, there was absolutely no problem. Since they regained their senses around the time they were out of breath lifting it while groaning. And I..."

Eugene grabbed the handle.

[Shaaaaak-.]

Cassandra heard a bizarre scream. The anger swirling on the axe blade crawled hiding deep inside as if terrified.

"There's no chance of me being swayed by this either."

Cassandra, bearing an admiring face, discovered letters engraved on the bottom of the axe blade.

"Are they letters of hell?"

Eugene, having nodded his head, traced the letters of hell with his finger. Then, the spirit's whisper was heard in his soul.

[Open the path. Even a great army shall scatter.]

Although an existence originating from hell, its resonance was far from wickedness. Since it was born in a terrible pressure where even malice couldn't permeate.

'An existence that passed through the abyss of hell yet is untainted by evil, huh.'

Eugene felt a bizarre sense of kinship from the spirit. Perhaps it's the same for that guy, as it showed signs of being drawn to while simultaneously fearing its new master.

"I understand you haven't named this weapon."

Precious weapons naturally get named. However, Eugene was still withholding that.

"I plan to decide after trying using it in actual combat. Since it's a weapon harboring a mystery, a name fitting its effect would be good, right? Since I still don't know very well yet."

Eugene was able to feel the satisfying cry of the spirit from the grasped handle. Does it want to quickly show off its true power?

The spirit liked the new master's strength, the wavelength of his soul, and his prudence. All of it. As if a shadow wandering alone for a long time finally found a physical body to cling to.