Chapter 149: Seeds of Vengeance
Sometime later, after enduring Arwyn's ridiculous lessons for quite a while, Seraphina found herself seated on a wide sofa inside the Duke's mansion, a massive estate located at the far north of Velhart and surrounded by towering walls, with several different kinds of buildings spread throughout the grounds, carrying an oppressive sense of authority.
The sun had already drifted toward the west, casting the town beneath it in a soft golden hue that quietly announced the approach of evening, while several birds passed by the window opposite her seat, their silhouettes briefly crossing her line of sight before disappearing into the distance.
Seated across from her on another sofa was a young man with neatly combed navy blue hair and calm, composed eyes of the same color, his posture relaxed yet deliberate, as though every movement had been carefully measured in advance.
After taking a slow, controlled breath, Seraphina lifted her gaze and spoke in a cold, unwavering voice, "You must already be well aware of the reason behind my sudden visit, Duke Velhart. If that is the case, then I have no intention of wasting time explaining matters any further."
Veroy remained silent for a brief moment, his legs crossed casually as his gaze drifted toward the window, and when he finally spoke, his tone was just as calm as his expression, "Yes, the Guildmaster informed me of the current situation earlier this morning. Considering that the Dungeon Break will still take several more weeks before it occurs, constructing a temporary fortress in that abandoned area is feasible. However, I am afraid... I cannot provide funds for such an undertaking, nor can I offer support for hiring adventurers."
'Naturally, you would not, since there is nothing to gain from it, especially when the monsters outside the dungeon do not drop valuable magic stones that can be sold.'
Leaning back slightly, Seraphina's gaze grew noticeably colder as she said, "May I ask for the reason behind your refusal?"
Veroy paused once again, then tilted his head slightly as a faint smile appeared on his face, though there was no warmth behind it at all, "Yes, of course. It's quite simple, there is nothing to be gained from such an effort. Tell me, have you ever heard of a Dungeon Break where the mana detector exploded before it could even measure the mana density in the surrounding area? Do you truly understand the scale of the monsters this town is about to face right now? Do you genuinely believe that a group of adventurers could defend against such a threat? No, they could not. At this rate... we would all perish, as no one can save this town anymore."
He paused for a moment, then let out a quiet sigh as though the conclusion had already settled firmly in his mind, then he looked at her with a strange expression, "On top of that, the reputation of our town among others is so terrible that most adventurers would never even consider coming here. No amount of gold would persuade them otherwise. With that in mind, would it not be wiser to evacuate while time is still on our side, rather than wasting money attempting to save a bunch of strangers whose fate is already sealed?"
Seraphina fell silent, her expression darkening as she drew in a deep breath, and when she finally spoke, her voice carried a clear edge of restrained menace, "Wasting money? A bunch of strangers? Here I thought you were different from the usual bastard nobles, Duke Velhart. I must say, I am truly grateful to you for correcting a mistake I have been making all these years, although it appears that you are no different from your father, after all. I am deeply disappointed in you."
She paused for a moment, then continued with a sigh, "To be honest, I do not truly understand how the perspective of nobles like you works either. Whether it is because you were born with a golden spoon in your mouth or because you have never experienced the harsh reality of the outside world, you still look down on commoners, and that fact has not changed even slightly."
She waited for a moment, however, he didn't answer, didn't even react at all.
After a brief pause, she tilted her head slightly upward, her cold blue eyes narrowing as they gleamed with restrained fury, "Why do you nobles always forget that the position you hold, the expensive clothes you wear, the delicious food you eat every day, and even the grand mansion you live in all exist because of the hardships endured by those you call lowly commoners? If they were to stop paying taxes for long enough, what do you think would happen then? Probably nothing at all, since you likely possess enough wealth hidden away to live comfortably for the rest of your life without consequence. Ah, my apologies, it seems I may have crossed a line this time, have I not?"
Veroy looked at her quietly for a moment before lowering his gaze slightly, but his expression remained unchanged, as though her words had failed to reach him in any meaningful way, "It is fine. I don't mind."
Seraphina fell silent once again, even though she had truly believed that those harsh words would at least stir some sense of shame within him, but judging by his reaction, it was clear that they had not affected him in the slightest.
Taking a slow and steady breath, she spoke in a composed and confident voice, "Regardless, you know better than anyone that as the governor of this town you carry a heavy responsibility on your shoulders, one that you must fulfill just as we all do as fellow citizens of Velhart. If the governor himself begins to waver simply upon hearing news of an approaching crisis, what do you think will happen to the people who look up to you for guidance? You, at the very least, have troops of guards stationed around you who are capable of protecting your life... yet even so you are unwilling to spend money that does not even belong to you in order to aid those who are suffering. Have you ever once considered how those without guards or protection would feel, merely from hearing such news alone?"
Veroy continued to stare down at the floor, then after a moment of thought he raised his head to meet her gaze, interlacing his fingers together, he spoke in a voice devoid of any emotion, "It makes no difference whether I understand their feelings or not. There is nothing we can do to protect them from this disaster anymore, not even you possess such power, and that is simply a harsh truth we must accept. So give it up, Captain, you will not change my decision this time. However, I will offer you some advice, if you truly wish to save at least a portion of the population by evacuating them to the Capital, then I will provide every bit of support I can manage. How does that sound?"
Seraphina studied his face for a moment, then her gaze drifted toward the desk in the distance as a somber expression slowly appeared on her face, "Ah, what a pity. In the end, you truly do not understand the people of this town at all, do you? It is rather unfortunate, to say the least, yet you are the only one who wishes to run away from this disaster."
At that moment, Veroy's expression changed instantly, yet he clenched his fingers tightly and spoke in a low voice filled with restrained emotion, "Run away? Of course, we must run away if we wish to survive. What kind of lunatic would not want to escape from such a hellish place when a disaster of this scale is approaching?"
Seraphina responded at once, but her voice had grown colder than before and her eyes were sharper than ever, "None, actually. The people of this town may be frightened right now, however, if they are truly its citizens, they would never even consider running away. Do you know why that is?"
She paused briefly, then added with a cold smile, "Because they are all lunatics. Velhart is a town surrounded by vast forests and towering mountains, lands that are filled with countless unimaginable monsters capable of wiping out the town in an instant. Even within such risks, this town has no fortress or walls to protect it from those terrors. Knowing that they could perish at any moment without any protection, people still chose to come here to live. Some have even lived here quite peacefully. You understand the reason behind that, do you not?"
Veroy stared ahead before shrugging indifferently, "It is because of a strange belief these foolish people cling to, something passed down through generations. That belief claims monsters from either side will never cross into Velhart."
As ridiculous as it sounded, that belief was indeed the truth. When Seraphina had first learned of it, she too had assumed it was nothing more than a rumor spread by the Duke's family to avoid the expense of constructing walls, and while that might have been partially true, however, after conducting her own research, she discovered that during the past two hundred years there had been no recorded incidents of monsters attacking the town from the outside, unless the townsfolk themselves had ventured into monster territory instead, which made the situation undeniably strange.
Even so, the people of this town genuinely believed in it from the bottom of their hearts. If such people could not be called lunatics, then who else possibly could?
Perhaps, without realizing it, Seraphina herself had already become one of them.
Leaning back slightly, Seraphina chuckled, "If these people can place their faith in something so foolish, do you truly believe they would run away from something as minor as a mere Dungeon Break? After all, they live surrounded by countless monsters every single day."
Veroy looked at her, but he did not offer any reply for quite some time.
'So that is how it is, huh?'
Seraphina let out another sigh, this one filled with disappointment and faint resentment, as she said, "In the end, it seems you have no intention of changing your decision no matter the cost. Very well, keep the funds to yourselves and do whatever you wish with them, we will no longer interfere. However, remember this clearly, you claimed that we cannot save everyone, did you not? I will prove you wrong and save everyone myself, even if no outside help ever arrives."
Veroy tilted his head slightly as a dark smile crept across his face, his eyes narrowing with quiet malice while he spoke in a low voice, "I'll be waiting then, to witness you break apart into pieces, Captain. I sincerely wish you good luck."
Seraphina let out an indifferent sigh before rising from her seat with composed elegance, the long cloak resting on her shoulders swaying faintly behind her as she turned away and made her way toward the door that led outside without sparing him another word.
Normally, she would have offered formal greetings to the governor of the town, but she had never believed in granting courtesy or respect to those she deemed unworthy of it. She had tolerated his minor greed in the past, choosing to overlook it because of the confidence he carried and the potential he once possessed to become one of the finest governors the region had ever known, but seeing such a man reduced to trembling fear at the mere prospect of danger, especially when he would not even be the one standing on the front lines, left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Even so, she could not entirely condemn him, as he was still human, bound by weakness and fear like countless others.
When she reached the doorway, an elderly man with a stooped posture stepped forward and opened it for her, prompting her to halt mid-step for a moment before she spoke in a cold and measured voice, "Duke Velhart, while you still have time to flee, I advise you to run away as far as you can, because this town is not a place meant for someone like you to live in..."
She lingered for a fraction of a second longer before adding, without turning back to face him, "...Coward."
---
After the Knight Captain departed from the room, Veroy remained seated in complete silence for a long while, his body unmoving until he finally rose and walked toward the window positioned opposite him, staring out at the view beyond with a strange and unreadable expression.
It was then that the old man approached and stopped directly behind him, his presence quiet yet imposing as he spoke in a low and unsettling tone, "My lord, is it truly wise to refuse the request of the knight orders at a time such as this? Have you perhaps forgotten what befell your father when he committed the same mistake you are making now?"
Veroy's expression darkened instantly as his hand rose to cover his face, his voice shaking with restrained fury when he answered, "No, Head Butler, no. How could I ever forget the humiliation that that fucking bitch inflicted upon my father and our family? Even if I wished to forget it, that shameful memory would never leave me. You should know this better than anyone. I pushed myself forward as a governor, fulfilling every duty and meeting every requirement necessary to earn her favor, all because of the revenge I have pursued for so long. I always understood that I could never overpower her through strength alone, so I sought to rise high enough to offer her a marriage proposal, believing I could exact my revenge through that bond. But... there is no need to go that far anymore, because the moment I have been waiting for has finally arrived."
The head butler remained silent for a moment before asking in a subdued voice, "Have you discovered a way to defeat her, my lord?"
Veroy continued staring outside, his eyes following the woman with long silver hair as she walked confidently along the stone path below, before speaking in a calm yet chilling tone, "Perhaps you could say that. Just look at her carefully, without that overwhelming strength she possesses, she is nothing more than a beautiful woman, and that is all she truly is. Would you like to hear how I intend to exact my revenge upon her?"
He paused, his fists clenching so tightly that his knuckles turned pale, a mad expression appeared on his face, and before the head butler could respond, he continued in a dark and venomous tone, "I will shatter the pride she clings to in front of those strangers she cherishes and seeks to protect. I will be the one to break her first, then expose her ruined body to the very people who once praised her, just as they once did to my father. I wonder how they will react when they realize that what they inflicted upon someone else has now happened to their so-called savior. To make it even sweeter, I will allow them to touch her as well, just to witness how she reacts when those she tried so desperately to protect become the ones who defile her. How will she endure that sight? Ah, just imagining it fills me with a sick sense of fascination."
---
A few days back...
It was already deep into the night, and within the enormous chamber that held a single grand bed, every corner was filled with intricate designs carved with obsessive care, while the long curtains hanging beside the tall windows swayed gently as the cold wind slipped inside, moving with a strange and almost deliberate harmony.
After enduring an endless mountain of work throughout the day, Veroy made his way toward the bed with measured steps, his posture composed and dignified as always, but an unfamiliar chill continued to crawl along his spine no matter how steady his breathing remained.
'The wind sure is rather cold tonight.'
He released a quiet breath and allowed a restrained yawn to escape him, exhaustion finally catching up as he prepared to rest, though just as he was about to lower himself onto the bed, a strange sensation wrapped around his senses, subtle at first and then unmistakable, giving him the clear impression that he was no longer alone within the room.
'This feeling?'
As if responding to his unspoken thought, a sudden howl of wind swept past him and brushed against his skin, making him shiver. In that fleeting moment, he caught sight of a shadow resting upon the bed, the faint outline of a quiet woman whose presence felt unnervingly real, with strands of her clothing fluttering behind her as if carried by the same restless air.
His body stiffened instantly.
Even without seeing her clearly, he understood what it meant when an unknown presence entered one's chamber in the dead of night, as such visits were never meant for courtesy or greetings but to end a life. But who would dare send an assassin after him? Who would be bold enough to attempt it within his own residence? How did she even manage to get past the guards?
Before his thoughts could settle, something cold, slim, and unnervingly sharp brushed against his neck, sending another shiver coursing down his body as his breath hitched.
A hoarse whisper slipped into his ear, low and threatening, "Don't move!"
'I need to keep myself together. If that person still didn't harm me when she got the chance, she sure has some business with me. No need to get afraid of such a thing, otherwise she'll definitely kill me.'
Maintaining his posture with careful control, he took a shallow breath and spoke in a steady but restrained tone that betrayed none of the unease stirring within him, "Who are you?"
A strange silence settled between them, thick enough to press against his chest, until the voice returned without warning, "You can call me Serow. I wish to speak with you."
Speak with him, and about what exactly?
Without wasting any time, he nodded faintly, careful not to move even a single muscle that might be mistaken for resistance, "You may."
The sharp point resting against his throat shifted just slightly, no longer biting into his skin, as the woman's voice returned at once, "For starters, I don't have enough time. So, let me get this straight… do you perhaps have any wish to avenge your father?"
His eyes widened despite himself, and his expression changed before he could fully suppress it, though he forced his emotions back under control almost immediately. Why would a complete stranger ask such a question without hesitation?
Although the answer was painfully obvious, he still could not tell whether this woman stood as an ally or an enemy, leaving him with no choice but to respond cautiously.
Relaxing his shoulders just slightly, he said in a low and controlled voice, "What if I do."
In the very next instant, the sharp tip was withdrawn from his throat, allowing him to breathe freely once more as the cold threat vanished as abruptly as it had appeared.
The relief was undeniable, but he knew well enough that the absence of the weapon did not mean safety, since a single wrong movement would still spell his death.
And of course, he could not afford to die yet.
Keeping his body completely still, he parted his lips and asked quietly, "What are you doing?"
He blinked once, and within that brief moment, the woman who had been behind him now stood directly before him, her movement so swift and silent that it left him momentarily stunned even though his body never shifted from its place.
'I mustn't move, at all costs.'
She appeared young, perhaps in her early twenties, her dark brown hair shifting softly with the wind as her silver eyes reflected a cold and merciless light. Her features were undeniably beautiful, but they carried no warmth whatsoever. What truly caught his attention was the black suit wrapped around her figure, seemingly woven from dark silk, which moved fluidly with the air and subtly revealed the curves of her figure, though he quickly forced his gaze away as propriety demanded.
What surprised him most, however, was the realization that the weapon which had held his life at its mercy was nothing more than a silver pen with an unusually sharp tip, an object he never imagined could be used with such deadly intent. Still, what mattered far more was why such a woman had come to him, what she truly wanted, why she spoke of revenge so openly, and why she had spared him after hearing his response.
She sat down on the bed without sparing him any attention, as though his presence held little significance in her eyes, leaving him slightly dumbfounded, before finally meeting his gaze and speaking in a calm and detached tone, "To be clear, I mean no harm. We are meant to be allies in some regard, after all. Our Queen has made an offer to you. She wishes to help you avenge your father."
'Help me? Are they even aware of who I am going to antagonize? Even if they are, how exactly are they supposed to win against someone so strong?'
Veroy was indeed surprised, but he did not allow even a trace of it to surface as he asked calmly, "Why would you want to help me? You would gain nothing from doing so."
Serow remained silent for a brief moment, her eyes studying him carefully before she tilted her head just slightly and spoke in an even voice, "Not true. You see, Seraphina Valthrone has been obstructing our path lately and becoming rather nerve-wracking, so we intend to eliminate her in order to clear the first obstacle standing in the way of our goal. The manner of her downfall holds little importance to us, which means we are free to hand her over to anyone we deem suitable afterward.
She paused for a moment, then added with a cold chuckle, "Because of that, our leader merely thought that offering her to the gracious lord of this town, who harbors such deep resentment toward her, would be the most fitting outcome. Even if she ends up dead, all you require is her body to humiliate her in the end, isn't that correct? Ah, the way your poor old father was hanged naked by his own people after the rebellion she ignited against him, ah, not even the vilest creature from hell would deserve such an end. It must have been difficult for you."
Veroy's expression shifted instantly as his fists clenched tightly at his sides, his voice snapping with restrained fury when he demanded, "That's true. So, tell me... how do you intend to defeat someone of her caliber?"
Serow's gaze darkened slightly as she began explaining everything in careful detail, revealing the methods they intended to use to drag that wicked woman down piece by piece until there would be nothing left of her former strength.
After hearing her plans, Veroy realized that he no longer had any choice from that point onward, since refusing would result in his death right there and then, although the thought of refusal never truly crossed his mind, as the plan itself was disturbingly reasonable and the things they demanded of him were easy enough to accomplish.
If everything succeeded as promised, then even someone like Seraphina could be crushed with surprising ease. There was no reason to let such an opportunity slip through his fingers. He did not necessarily need to kill her; what he desired was humiliation, both for her and for the people who followed her, and this appeared to be the only path available to him, one that he intended to follow to its bitter conclusion.
Releasing a slow breath, he finally answered in a deep, steady voice, "Very well, I will place my trust in you. As such, I will reject all support and funds she requests from me. I will also incite a rebellion against her, just as you instructed. In fact, I will do everything you ask of me in order to weaken her. In return, you will hand her body over to me, whether it is dead, battered, or torn means nothing to me. However, I will not swear loyalty to your leader until everything you promised becomes reality."
---
Present time…
Standing by the window and gazing outside, Veroy paused briefly as a wide smile slowly spread across his face, his voice distant and almost reverent while he concluded, "It appears that everything is unfolding exactly as you foretold. Can you hear it? I should have listened to you much sooner. Even though it may be late, I now pledge my absolute loyalty to the Queen."
A voice responded from a short distance behind him, unmistakably feminine and calm, "A good choice. You will never regret it."
Turning his head over his shoulder, he saw the woman sitting casually atop his desk as though it were the most natural thing in the world, prompting him to ask with barely concealed anticipation, "I know. So tell me, what do you want me to do next? I find myself rather eager to play with her a little longer, you see."
Serow remained silent for a moment, then said without hesitation, "Have some patience. We will proceed exactly as we discussed that day. For now, inform the gang leaders who are responsible for increasing crime throughout the town to wait a little longer, at least until that bitch is sent to the dungeon."
Veroy's expression twisted at once as he questioned, "I will do as you wish. But even if she disappears within the town, do you not think that the Lieutenant might become troublesome for us?"
Serow crossed her legs lazily and shrugged with indifference as she said, "That so-called hottie? Don't worry about her. She lacks the capability to significantly interfere with our plans, and her reputation exceeds her actual achievements. Moreover, after gathering information from within the academy, we discovered that she is merely a support mage, not a true combatant."
She paused for a moment, then added with a dark grin, "If that still leaves room for doubt, you should know that the poison administered by one of my subordinates is still active. It must be consuming her from the inside little by little. She will die eventually regardless, so all you must do is continue following instructions without deviation. This time, victory will undoubtedly be ours."
---
Somewhere far away, deep within a long and wide corridor whose uneven walls were packed tightly with brown jagged rocks, countless creatures with glowing orange eyes and grotesque faces marched forward in a single, unsettling harmony, their heavy synchronized steps shaking the ground beneath them as if the dungeon itself were reacting to their presence.
Each of them stood at least three meters tall with broad shoulders and thick bulging muscles, their green skin streaked with patches of black as though stained by old battles, while massive jagged battleaxes rested casually on their shoulders as if the weapons were nothing more than ornaments.
"Where do you think you guys are going?"
The moment the voice echoed through the corridor, the entire group of monsters came to a halt and slowly lifted their gazes forward, before releasing deafening growls that reverberated across the stone walls as their postures shifted, bodies lowering and muscles tensing as they prepared to charge toward the lone enemy blocking their path.
"Don't you guys know... you have to step on me before going outside? I'm sorry to say this but my leader hasn't given me permission to let anyone pass, though. Still, I'm a quite generous woman, you see, so I'll give you all a chance. Anyone who can move within the next second may go outside, gain freedom, and even massacre the town if you wish. How does that sound? Great, isn't it? So, shall we start?"
The Goblin Kings roared once more and surged forward with murderous intent, eager to crush whatever dared stand before them, yet in the very next instant all of them froze mid-step as if an unseen force had dragged them downward, despite there being nothing around them that could be seen or felt.
Even then, they refused to surrender as their bodies strained again and again in futile attempts to move, muscles quivering and joints groaning under invisible pressure, yet no matter how desperately they struggled, not a single one of them could take another step.
Another guttural growl escaped their frozen throats.
At that exact moment, wisps of cold mist began to seep into the corridor, rising from the ground, creeping along the walls, and even descending from the ceiling itself as though the dungeon were exhaling frost.
Within a single second, every one of the creatures was encased completely in crystal-clear ice, their twisted expressions preserved forever, while the entire chamber transformed as well, its rocky surface replaced entirely by shimmering frozen walls that reflected pale blue light.
"Game over. It seems I won once again. Why are you guys so damn weak? It's no fun at all. Does this dungeon even have a stronger monster? At this rate... when am I ever going to fight someone worthy enough to test my new strength?"
At the opposite end of the corridor, resting upon a sofa clearly sculpted from ice, lay a woman with short hair that shimmered between icy white and crystal blue, leisurely eating grapes one by one while her expression carried nothing but disappointment.
"I need someone like him, I guess."
Effie was bored.
---
(Chapter Ended)
To be continued...