Chapter 73
"It grows so fast."
Brans said with a look of wonder as he watched the Thunder Wolf Dragon's pup.
"Indeed it does."
Is it because I fed it troll blood?
The fellow, which was only the size of a palm, had grown to the size of a small dog in just a month.
There was a limit to what I could feed a pup that hadn't even opened its eyes, and since there was nothing to substitute its mother's milk, I fed it troll blood.
How much could a palm-sized creature possibly eat?
Besides, I had quite a few bottles of troll blood, so I fed it without much concern, and before I knew it, it had grown this much.
Its teeth were already sharpening, and horns had begun to sprout on its head.
Claws and scales, characteristics of a dragon that weren't visible when it was a newborn, were also faintly starting to show.
Since it began showing these characteristics, I've been feeding it a mixture of troll blood and its mother's blood.
And one more thing.
"It's already wielding lightning."
As it bounded around playfully, it occasionally manifested lightning.
Its power was still so weak that it was only at the level of static electricity, though.
-Squeak, squeak
It came to my side, whining and nudging the sword at my waist.
When I drew the Lightning Sword and drew out a little lightning energy, it started licking the blade as if eating a lightning bolt.
"My, that's fascinating."
Was it looking for traces of its mother on the Lightning Sword? Or did it think the Lightning Sword was its mother?
Thinking of it that way, its fate seemed quite pitiful, and I felt a pang of sympathy.
"Poor thing. Tsk tsk."
Brans, saying it was pitiful, tried to pet and coax it.
At that, the tiny fellow bared its teeth and growled.
"My. It seems to think of you as its parent, My Lord?"
"It's probably half and half."
It reacts to the lightning energy of the Lightning Sword.
At first, I thought it was just because it was similar to its mother's, but after it licked the sword and shot out a bolt of lightning, it brimmed with even more energy.
It was a familiar energy from within its stomach, and doing that made its own energy overflow, so it was probably half and half.
And mistaking me, the one holding this sword, as its mother, too.
"It's only about the size of a dog right now, but..."
"It'll keep getting bigger."
Now, it wasn't satisfied with just Thunder Wolf Dragon blood and troll blood.
It was already craving meat; a beast was indeed a beast.
"But why is its name Bibi?"
It was the name of a pet dog I kept in the past.
There's no special meaning behind it.
"I can name it however I please."
At those words, Helena didn't seem to have anything to say either and simply nodded.
It had been a month since we came down from the North.
I was about to get a new horse after recovering the saddle of Humasis, which the fellow had stolen.
We hitched a ride on a merchant group's carriage heading to the capital and traveled relatively comfortably.
In the beginning, the road was rough, so we swept aside magic beasts and bandits along the way, but lately, there hadn't been any such occurrences.
Passing through connected cities one after another, how could there be any danger?
Thus, while inside the carriage, I cultivated the Manhwabongyuk, and when we stopped, I practiced the Pianhua technique outside.
"Bibi, come here."
And I allocated the remaining time to Bibi.
It would excitedly jump around inside the carriage, splash urine and feces on Brans, then come to me to act cute and get some meat.
I channeled the Lightning Sword's lightning energy into it and used that to train it as well.
Dragon and wolf.
Perhaps because it possessed the blood of both, as well as the blood of a magic beast, it was highly intelligent and easily grasped my intentions beyond just following commands.
For a beast barely a month old, it was remarkably smart.
"Bibi, sit. Lie down. Stand up. Bang."
It even played dead perfectly.
"Bibi, bite."
-Grrr!
It latched onto Brans's trouser leg. And one more.
"Attack."
A tiny spark of lightning flickered toward Brans.
"Ow, that stings! M-My Lord! Please spare me from its training when I'm the target!"
Ignoring Brans's wailing, I patted Bibi's head.
When I tossed it a piece of meat, it sprang up and caught it in a flash.
"Good job."
Its tail wagging furiously like a motor was quite cute.
"If anyone saw this, they'd think it was a real dog."
Right now, it's only at the level of static electricity.
But seeing how it grew this much in just a month, I was curious to see how it would turn out when fully grown.
Its mother, the Thunder Wolf Dragon, had fought evenly against a Commander-class opponent.
In a one-on-one situation, it would have surpassed them, and even in a many-on-one fight, it wouldn't have been significantly pushed back.
If it grew to adulthood, it would become quite strong.
Troll blood and Thunder Wolf Dragon blood.
And it was absorbing the lightning of the Lightning Sword whenever it felt like it.
'I'm not sure if I'll be able to control it by then, though.'
If I couldn't control it, I would have no choice but to let it seep into the Lightning Sword just like its mother.
That was my intention from the start when I took it in.
'I won't give it my affection.'
I shouldn't do that either.
"Karius. Do you know your expression is really weird right now?"
"What do you mean?"
"How should I put it... like a kid who wants a snack but is putting on a stubborn front to hold back?"
"Stop spouting nonsense. Bibi, attack."
-Grrr!!
Crackle!
"Kyaa! Why are you being so childish seriously! It really stings!"
"Attack, attack."
"Kyaa! W-Where are you aiming!"
Helena, her face flushed red, covered her chest with both arms.
It hit a rather inappropriate spot.
"As expected of a beast. It instinctively attacked a weak point."
"Hehe, indeed. This fellow is a male after all..."
I ordered Bibi to attack Brans, who was flashing a sleazy smile.
"Argh! W-Why are you doing this, My Lord!"
"Your smile is obnoxious."
"Ow, hot! P-Please stop!"
-Grr! Grrr! Woof! Woof!
"You must be crazy, seriously."
Helena, seemingly angry, melted into the shadows and disappeared.
After the commotion died down, I called Bibi over and tossed it a few pieces of meat.
Clunk.
The carriage came to a halt right on time.
"What's going on?"
"Ah, well, that is..."
The coachman explained the situation with a troubled expression.
"Rohendel?"
Up ahead was a place called Rohendel, and the Lord of Rohendel was blocking the road.
"Why is he blocking the road?"
"He is collecting a toll, sir."
If that's the case, couldn't we just go around?
It's not like there are no other paths.
"The other routes have such rugged terrain that they are swarming with bandits. If we take those, not only will it waste time, but it's also dangerous."
Therefore, the only safe road was through Rohendel, and knowing this, the Lord was levying an exorbitant toll.
"Just how much is he collecting?"
"He demands four-tenths of the goods the merchant group is transporting. What should we do?"
I wondered how much the toll could be, but this was nothing short of daylight robbery.
"Orkal, handle this."
"Me? It's bothersome..."
"Being bothered is better than dying, isn't it?"
"Understood."
Orkal had come to follow me.
He and the Insect Spirit were quite useful, so I coaxed and persuaded them into becoming my subordinates.
The process wasn't difficult.
'Will you follow me?'
'Cut the bullshit!'
This kind of Q&A ensued, and every time, I gave him a taste of the Lightning Sword's bolts.
'I-I'll follow you! I will follow you!'
'We'll see.'
Orkal, thrashing in agony, had shouted that he would follow me with mere words, and each time he did, I thrust the Sword of Judgment at him.
'You haven't been beaten enough.'
'N-No! I truly want to follow you from the bottom of my heart! Please let me follow you!'
But the blade of the Sword of Judgment did not become transparent so easily.
It was only after being beaten to the brink of death over several days that Orkal finally showed his sincerity.
'A blade as clear and transparent as your heart. Very well. I shall take you in.'
'...'
As can be seen, the result was excellent.
I had pondered deeply.
There was someone from the upper echelons who had instigated the Chief Inquisitors to kill Karius.
Entering as an Inquisitor under such circumstances was no different from sticking one's head into a tiger's maw.
'But it could also be an opportunity.'
There are many eyes in the capital.
It would actually be more difficult to assassinate me there than in the North or in remote areas.
The more I raised my fame as an Inquisitor, the harder it would be for them to kill me.
That was why I kept Orkal alive.
And having made him my ally, if he had a title, he would become a Captain right away after a brief probationary period.
If that happened, things would become much easier.
A favorable position to dig out the pus of Carpe would be created.
"Is it here?"
The insect Orkal had sent ahead arrived.
It was about the size of a beetle, and it landed on my hand and tapped its shell.
When I emitted a bit of divine power, a voice suddenly echoed in my ear.
-Can you hear me?
It was one of the Insect Spirit's abilities.
A telegram using insects.
"Speak."
-I think you need to come see this.
It seemed like I had to handle this myself.
I reached my hand into the air and drew the Sword of Judgment. As I stepped down from the carriage, Bibi followed me with light steps.
As I walked step by step, Orkal and the soldiers blocking the castle wall soon came into view.
The Lord had already come out and was not overturning his stubborn decision.
He was accompanied by soldiers and knights positioned around him, and their numbers were quite substantial.
About thirty.
"Orkal, you could have cleaned this up, so why didn't you?"
"You know the Order's reputation has been in the gutter for a long time. Without a proper justification, even I can't do anything."
This was why I had desired the title of Count. The Order's reputation had been in the gutters for a long time. While under the Empire's pressure, the pilgrims were uninterested in the war and only occupied themselves with piling up corpses, leading to this.
I clicked my tongue, rested my sword on my shoulder, and glared at the Lord.
He looked like a toad. Seeing his face overflowing with greed, it seemed there was no need to bother with this and that.
I walked right up and thrust my sword at the Lord, who was quietly staring at me.
"W-What are you doing!!"
Shing!
The soldiers' swords were drawn as if spitting fire. They were aimed at me, but there was no need to pay them any mind.
"Did you bribe the bandits in this area to ensure people had no choice but to pass through this road?"
"W-What kind of nonsense is that!"
Contrary to his excuse, the color of the blade turned black.
As if projecting his filthy greed.
It was obvious.
Bandits were running rampant nearby, yet he didn't stop them and instead collected tolls?
This itself meant he had bribed them to stage a farce, or what else could it be?
"Trash like you."
Therefore, I showed no mercy in my hands.
Slash!
"Heok!"
"L-Lord!!"
The Lord's head was severed.
The Lord's head flew through the air and fell to the ground with a dull thud.
Thud.
"W-What is this! No! Why can I still talk!?"
Though his head was cut off, the Lord was not yet dead. His head was alive.
This was the Sword of Judgment's insignificant yet most beautiful, and at the same time cruelest, ability.
"Unless I permit it, you shall not die."
When a lie is discerned with the Sword of Judgment, and the person's neck is slashed.
The sword postpones death.
This is the bizarre ability of the Sword of Judgment, categorized as a Special Trait.
"Watch closely how everything you've hoarded crumbles."
I then gestured with my chin to Orkal, who sighed as if annoyed and headed for the Lord's castle.
Orkal would bring out every last corrupt thing in the Lord's castle.
There was no way a guy who did such things hadn't committed corruption.
"W-What are you doing! No, who the hell are you to do this! What are you all doing! Kill this bastard right now!!"
"Try it if you can."
It wouldn't be easy, though.
"Ugh!"
"Keuk!"
"M-My body... urgh!"
Mere soldiers, and even knights of a small city, were no match for the Hegemon's Sword alone.
Unable to even lift a finger, the soldiers and knights shrank back, unable to take a single step.
"W-What are you bastards doing!! Argh! You son of a bitch dog! Let go! I said let go!!"
Perhaps finding the rolling head amusing, Bibi rolled it around, biting at its hair and playing with it like a ball.
It seemed to think of it as a new toy. Well, I had made a few lords of the domains we passed through earlier the same way, so it wasn't strange to think of it as a toy.
"Bibi."
-Woof!
It brought the Lord's head in its mouth.
I grabbed the head and slowly walked through the city.
Some trembled in fear, while others expressed their gratitude to me.
They prayed, calling upon God, fell to their knees, and shed tears.
The homes of the territory's people were shabby and squalid, on the verge of collapse, and starving children on the streets were busy begging and stealing.
I could even see children seizing the moment when all eyes were focused on me to steal bread.
It was a common sight.
In the world I created, there were plenty of those who starved others to fill their own bellies.
It is the world I created.
Therefore, it must be changed.
In Carpe, where I will live.
In the world where I will live.
Because there is no need for such trash.
"You are unqualified to be a lord."
Roar.
The Lord's castle burned.
"No! Noooo!!"
I tossed the screaming head into the blazing fire and turned my back.
[Kingdom Quest]
[Empire's Spy]
◆ Kill the Empire's spies and save the Kingdom from the path of ruin.
◆ Number of Spies Killed: 2/?
"Did you find it?"
"Yes, right here."
A ledger and an envelope.
The ledger containing his corrupt dealings.
And the envelope...
"As expected, he was a puppet."
The spread of corruption is inherently possible because the upper waters are rotten.
He was merely a pawn doing as the one reigning above ordered.
"Whose orders were they? Do you know?"
"I know."
The pinnacle of corruption, and likely the human who had instigated my assassination.
The figure who was secretly leading Carpe down the shortcut to ruin was none other than...
"The Order's Archbishop, Alhamtra."
Alhamtra. Behind him, Rohan Valus.
That bastard is the snake gnawing at the kingdom.