Chapter 31: Chapter 31
Chapter 31 - An Obedient Dog
"Wait a moment, Count Consilus! We are representatives of the Imperial Inspection Corps."
Perhaps he had misunderstood, so Karl emphasized it once more.
Your future and your path to advancement depend on us.
Count Consilus patted him lightly on the shoulder with a sympathetic expression.
"You’ve come a long way. Indeed. To think the Empire would summon people over something like this and put innocent lives through such trouble."
"W-What... what exactly do you mean...?"
This wasn’t how the story was supposed to go.
It had definitely been Count Consilus who had been ranting about what a damned bastard Ferda was.
And now he was changing his mind?
’Don’t tell me...’
Karl’s eyes darted back and forth between Ferda and Count Consilus.
No.
That couldn’t be possible.
The world of nobles wasn’t one where such deep bonds existed.
"What are you standing there for?"
"...Pardon?"
Tilting his head slightly, Ferda spoke.
"Hurry and bring in the next witness."
He beckoned with a curling finger as if calculating something.
"There are still plenty of witnesses left. Excluding the late Teshalos Wolcher, there are thirteen remaining. Bring them all in and let them testify. If even one of them says I’m guilty, then your job is done, isn’t it?"
Even if ninety-nine denied it, as long as one claimed it was true, that was enough for the Extermination Squad to act.
But Karl already knew that summoning all thirteen witnesses would make no difference.
If Count Consilus, the true power of the Far East, denied everything, then every subordinate beneath him would do the same.
"If you can’t bring in the witnesses, then show me something else."
"W-What...?"
"Surely you brought more charges to slander and threaten me. Go on, show them."
The entire atmosphere had been turned upside down.
Karl desperately forced himself to keep fighting.
With trembling hands, he pulled something from inside his coat.
"I-I heard... that you kidnapped... this child."
It was a composite sketch of a young girl with long, straight hair.
Even from her vacant eyes, it was obvious that it was Mori.
’If they’re looking for Mori, then this must be from Hellus Fovidas.’
If Hellus Fovidas had pointed directly at Ferda, it meant they had tracked down the maid.
"I see."
Of course, that threat held no weight whatsoever.
Karl knew that perfectly well.
But his mind had gone completely blank, and he simply had to say something.
"I’m afraid you’ve got it wrong. I purchased that girl. I obtained the maid’s consent and legally transferred her ownership to myself. That cannot be called kidnapping."
"..."
"If you still insist otherwise, then we can always invite the person involved and settle it together. Now then, what’s next?"
Karl remained silent.
Everything else he had amounted to nothing.
Petty accusations no different from fishing around for a few extra coins.
He had no cards left to play.
"Then I suppose it’s my turn to speak."
Now it was Ferda’s turn.
He shifted his gaze toward Count Consilus.
"Count Consilus."
"Yes, Your Excellency, Regent."
The count bowed respectfully.
"This man openly demanded money from me."
"Hoho, is that so? Well, since he came such a long distance, wouldn’t it be reasonable to provide him with some travel expenses?"
"The amount he demanded as travel expenses was one hundred thousand Golden."
"Hoho. That’s quite a considerable sum."
"What kind of value does that amount hold?"
"That depends on whom you ask, so it’s difficult to answer definitively."
"I see. Then in terms of what it would mean for the people of your territory?"
"It would be enough for my people to live for ten years without worrying about food."
"I see."
Ferda’s blue eyes gleamed faintly.
"So this man intended to rob my people of ten years of their lives all by himself."
"Exactly."
Count Consilus shot Karl a cold glare.
The playful smile on his face had vanished, replaced by unmistakable anger.
"It is truly an unforgivable crime."
"Ah... Aah..."
Even the cat he had invited to corner a rat had turned out to be on the rat’s side.
Karl had never imagined he would become the one being cornered, and his body began trembling uncontrollably.
"What do you think, Count? What should be done with this man?"
"Someone bearing the Empire’s name while demanding bribes? That is hardly something a mere Knight should be doing."
"Indeed. He also demanded that I treat him as though he were the Emperor himself."
"Hohoho! Surely he couldn’t have done such a thing? For a mere Knight to compare himself to His Majesty the Emperor."
"And if it were true?"
"Then he’d deserve the same fate as Teshalos. Teshalos Wolcher ended up with a hole through his forehead, didn’t he?"
"Indeed."
As the two men spoke one-sidedly, Karl could barely breathe.
Unable to utter a single word, he simply looked from one to the other while cold sweat streamed down his face.
"But before that... why don’t we file an official protest with the Empire over the bribery and impersonation of the Imperial Family?"
"An excellent suggestion. Though would anyone even bother listening if someone as young as I lodged such a complaint?"
"You needn’t worry. I’ll make the arrangements."
Most nobles already knew the Extermination Squad did plenty of dirty work.
But publicly turning it into an official issue was an entirely different matter.
No one would dare ignore the words of Count Consilus, the veteran who had defended the Empire’s front lines into old age.
’Count Consilus...’
Karl’s eyes filled with betrayal.
The old man laughing and chatting before him had been the one who had lured him into this trap.
’He trapped me... the Extermination Squad...!’
Count Consilus and Grand Duchess Valdrova had conspired together to create this entire situation.
Karl made one final desperate attempt.
"W-We are part of the Imperial Direct Command Unit! Filing a protest won’t change anything...!"
"Do you really believe that?"
Ferda answered coldly.
"What exactly is your worth?"
"My... worth?"
"Would it be more convenient for them to protect you, or would it be easier to cut off your head and declare that this was simply the misconduct of one individual?"
There wasn’t even any need to ask.
The latter was overwhelmingly the better option.
"And even if you somehow survived, do you think your own relatives would remain quiet? Most likely, your younger brothers would come personally to cut off your head."
"W-What do you mean...?"
"Think about it, eldest son of the Harvest family. You have two younger brothers beneath you, don’t you? Even if you all got along well, do you think they’d stay silent after their older brother was exposed for corruption?"
Of course they wouldn’t.
Those two had always envied everything Karl enjoyed simply because he had been born first.
If they truly valued a Knight’s honor, they would kill him for the glory of the family.
And if they were merely ambitious opportunists, they would kill him for the sake of their own advancement.
Karl had become prey whose death was more valuable than his life.
With everything pressing down upon him, Karl finally realized the truth.
’The dragon was never the real problem.’
The very Regent they had mocked until only a few days ago was the one they truly should have feared.
"Answer me."
Ferda’s voice snapped Karl back to reality.
As always, his tone was cold.
"What do I look like to you now?"
It was as though an icy blade had been placed against his throat.
One wrong answer, and it felt as though that blade would slice through his neck and cut him into pieces.
Trembling with fear, Karl answered with great difficulty.
"Y-You are... the great Regent Valdrova."
His voice carried complete submission.
"That’s right. I am the one who governs the Grand Duchess’s territory in her stead."
Ferda rose from his seat and placed a hand on Karl’s trembling shoulder.
"And I believe you should become the master of the Extermination Squad."
A sweet whisper worthy of the devil himself.
"Do you wish to become the master of the Extermination Squad, or would you rather die nobly for its sake?"
It was a foolish question.
There was nothing noble about the Extermination Squad.
Karl lowered his head deeply.
"Please... accept my loyalty."
Ferda shook his head.
"I have no need for loyalty as fickle as reeds swaying in the wind."
Just as Karl’s heart sank to the bottom, Ferda continued.
"What I need is an obedient dog."
"...A dog?"
"A dog that only does as it’s told and never acts on its own. One that happily wags its tail whenever I toss it a bone, and quietly waits for its master. If you can do that, your path to success will open. Do you understand?"
Karl nodded.
"I-I understand. I’ll become a dog. I will become... Your Excellency Regent’s dog."
"Good."
Ferda patted him on the shoulder.
"Stay here for the night. I need to make a collar for my new dog."
"...Yes."
The color never returned to Karl’s deathly pale face.
***
Karl left the reception room.
By now, he and the subordinates he had brought with him would be enjoying dinner.
Of course, for Karl himself, it was nothing more than his final meal before execution, so he couldn’t even tell whether the food was going into his mouth or his nose.
Meanwhile, Ferda spoke with Count Consilus.
Count Consilus explained everything from beginning to end about how the Extermination Squad had come to the Eastern Region.
"So, the reason the Extermination Squad acted with such confidence was because of you."
Count Consilus lowered his head.
"There is no excuse. I deserve death for what I did."
"It doesn’t matter. So, how did you reply to that letter?"
"I wrote that you were an upright and virtuous ruler who devoted himself to the Far East..."
Count Consilus grinned.
"I felt that giving any other answer would have been inappropriate."
"And why is that?"
Ferda already had a good idea, but he asked anyway.
"The Extermination Squad is like a swarm of locusts. The moment they smell prey, they descend upon it, ravage everything, and move on. The Far East is finally beginning to develop. They always target the weak first, swallowing them bit by bit. Once they gain a foothold, everything is already over."
That was one of the Extermination Squad’s primary strategies.
They isolated the weakest targets first before devouring them one after another.
"But because of Teshalos Wolcher, Your Excellency Regent’s public image had already been ruined."
On the surface, Ferda was already isolated.
It was only natural for the nobles to think this was the perfect opportunity to stab him in the back.
As long as they were convinced of that, he could be used as bait.
"So you made excellent use of me."
"I deeply apologize for causing you concern. Everything was my own plan. If punishment is necessary, then please punish this old man alone."
Ferda waved his hand dismissively.
"No, it’s fine. You merely got rid of the stray dogs wandering around and threatening the prosperity and peace of your territory."
"But testing Your Excellency like that must surely have offended you."
"You were honest, so I have no issue with it. As long as your loyalty belongs to the Grand Duchess, I don’t care how you make use of me. I didn’t become Regent to enjoy the authority of royalty. I accepted this position to devote myself to my queen."
"Ah..."
Count Consilus was a man who could easily see through the empty formalities of other nobles.
He could clearly tell that every word Ferda spoke came from the bottom of his heart.
"So tell me. To whom does your loyalty belong?"
"To be completely honest... my loyalty had always belonged to the Empire. More than to Her Highness the Grand Duchess, my heart leaned toward His Majesty the Emperor..."
Count Consilus gave a bitter smile as he confessed.
"When a man grows old, he also grows fearful. As time passes, he sometimes forgets why he stood where he stands."
"And have you remembered now?"
"Yes. Thanks to you, Your Excellency, my eyes have finally been opened."
Count Consilus looked out the window.
Not far away stretched the polluted lands—the Land of Demons.
From the height of his own castle, he had never been able to witness such a sight.
"When I first rose to this position, I swore to protect the people. My loyalty to the Empire was never because it elevated me. It was because I believed the Empire existed to protect its citizens."
"A truly noble nobleman."
"You flatter me."
Count Consilus chuckled.
He was the spokesman for the Far East.
Yet, as always, there had been nothing to reignite the fire within their hearts.
Countless soldiers had died, and all they gained in return were worn-out spirits and growing fear.
"Count Consilus."
"Yes."
"Does that conviction still dwell within your heart?"
"It does."
Ferda extended his hand.
"Then stand with me. To protect the East, I need someone like you."
Count Consilus widened his eyes before shaking his head.
"No... Please don’t say such things. Those are words that should come from me, not from you."
He knelt before Ferda and carefully placed both hands over the Regent’s outstretched one.
The hands that had once gripped a sword to protect the people were rough and calloused.
"Please lead this East, where only death awaits. I shall forever remain loyal to Her Highness the Grand Duchess, and I shall faithfully follow the will of the Regent."
***
Karl was suffering from a crushing hangover.
He had drunk himself senseless, hoping either to bury the secret he could never reveal—or simply die.
Instead of death, he was greeted only by a splitting headache and the morning sun.
’Damn it...’
He wanted to run.
But he didn’t even have the courage to do that.
So he could only sit there like a pig locked inside a slaughterhouse, waiting for his fate.
Someone entered the room.
Thinking it was Ferda, he hurriedly stood and lowered his head.
"U-Um... hello?"
Instead, a gloomy-looking woman with jet-black hair walked inside.
’Who... is this woman?’
Yet there was something extraordinary about her.
Judging by her clothes, she looked like nothing more than one of the castle’s administrators.
But beneath that ordinary appearance lurked such an ominous aura that it made him instinctively want to back away.
She awkwardly raised a hand in greeting.
"S-So... on behalf of Her Highness the Grand Duchess, I’ll be handling your contract... and... um..."
Her black eyes slowly swept across Karl’s face.
"You’re... not as handsome as I’d heard."
She sounded almost disappointed.
It felt like an insult for no reason at all, but Karl didn’t even have the energy to get angry.
"My name is Echidna Phyliaz."
"...Phyliaz?"
Karl’s hangover vanished instantly.
’Phyliaz? Then that means she’s a Witch from the Phyliaz!’
The Phyliaz.
Women who awakened the Red Circle would eventually encounter them, and once they formed a contract, they would inevitably become Witches.
They were infamous for despising men to an extreme degree and refusing to cooperate with anyone outside the Phyliaz.
’He... actually recruited a Witch to work for him?’
How?
Karl forcibly swallowed the scream that nearly escaped his lips.
His evaluation of Ferda had just changed completely.
"Here... this is the contract... W-Would you like to read it carefully?"
"Yes."
Karl grabbed hold of the document as though it were his last lifeline, reading it page by page.
’There has to be a loophole... I have to find one...’
But it was impossible.
There was no way someone with little knowledge of law could review a contract dozens of pages long on his own.
’As expected of a Witch...’
Among all beings, Witches were said to be second only to devils when it came to the ugliness of contracts.
When Ferda had mentioned making a dog collar for him, Karl had assumed it would simply involve ordinary contract magic.
He had never imagined a Witch would be involved.
After reading only three pages, Karl gave up and simply signed each sheet one by one.
No matter what, the fact that he was becoming a dog would not change.
The moment he signed the final page, the contract began to glow.
"Ugh."
Karl groaned as pain surged beneath his skin.
A burning sensation spread across his wrist as the contract’s crest branded itself there.
With that, his contract with the gloomy Witch was complete.
"Okay. Confirmed. From now on... um... you’d better be careful what you say."
"...Careful what I say?"
"I-I kind of expected this... but you really didn’t read it carefully... So... um... if you do anything against His Excellency the Regent’s will... or even try to hint to someone that this contract exists..."
Her shoulders twitched.
"...Your head will go bang!"
She smiled innocently.
"So you always have to be careful what you think... and what you say. Okay?"
She stammered like an airheaded girl, yet casually spoke of killing someone.
That contrast only made her seem even more terrifying.
Fifth-Tier contract magic possessed absolute authority within the terms of the contract.
If the agreement contained no loopholes, the only option was to forcefully dissolve it—and even that process was extremely difficult and troublesome.
’The contract’s tier isn’t even the biggest problem.’
Karl had entered into a contract with a Witch.
If that fact ever became known, not only would the Empire execute him by beheading...
His younger brothers, who had always coveted his position, might kill him first.
This absolutely had to remain a secret.
"..."
"Ehehe... I-I’d like you to answer me, please."
Karl flinched.
That ominous aura was pouring out of her once again.
Behind her awkward smile lurked a madness entirely devoid of malice.
That somehow made it even more horrifying.
"Y-Yes! O-Of course!"
"Okay. I heard your answer. You can go now. Bye-bye~"
Karl practically fled the room.
Echidna smiled brightly and waved at his retreating back.
He had only just managed to escape outside and catch his breath when—
"So, the contract was finished rather quickly."
He had escaped one tiger’s den only to find another tiger waiting outside.
The tiger placed a hand on Karl’s shoulder.
"As a member of the Extermination Squad, and now a dog who has sworn loyalty to the domain of Grand Duchess Valdrova, I shall give you your first mission."
There was no escaping now.
"What is my mission?"
Ferda answered without hesitation.
"Hellus Fovidas."
The man known as the Sage of Water.
"Bring him here."
Ferda intended to put a leash on that man as well.
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