Chapter 29

Thank you for your constant support!

If you could rate this with the stars ☆☆☆☆☆ below, it would be a great encouragement for my writing.

I would be very grateful!

"Welcome back, my lord."

Naimiria greeted Raido, who had returned to the mansion after retrieving the holy sword, with a melting smile.

Her expression, as sweet and beautiful as candy, would captivate not only the opposite sex but even the same sex, to the point of appearing in their dreams.

"Ah."

Despite being greeted with such a smile, Raido's reaction was rather indifferent.

While giving a curt reply, his gaze was directed at something on the floor, and he furrowed his brow in puzzlement.

"What's that? Where did you pick it up?"

"Picked it up? No way! They just broke into the house, so I just got rid of them!"

Naimiria waved her hands as she spoke, and at her feet lay five men.

These men, dressed in rags that one would never see in this district where nobles reside, were all unconscious, their eyes rolled back and foam spilling from their mouths.

"So? Who are these guys?"

"According to the... interrogation, they seem to be assassins hired by a noble of this country."

"Assassins... You mean they came to target my life so soon?"

After causing such a commotion in front of the king, it wouldn't be surprising if someone tried to take his life.

Perhaps a noble under the king's influence had sent assassins to eliminate the king's enemy.

(Still, this is too quick. Even if Granado's subordinates were to act, I thought they would wait until the analysis of the curse I placed on him was complete...)

The curse Raido placed on Granado would activate if Granado violated the agreement with Raido. The most significant violation would be attempting to harm Raido.

For them to attack before even trying to remove the curse seems too hasty, doesn't it?

"No, no, it seems they were after me."

"You...?"

"Yes, they intended to capture me and take me somewhere."

Upon hearing Naimiria's words, Raido pondered for a moment and then snapped his fingers, reaching a conclusion.

"I see, hostages!"

Raido, chosen by the holy sword, is a wildcard who holds the fate of the country in his hands. There are many who would desire his power.

Whether the noble who hired them is under the king's influence or not is unclear.

In any case, they must have intended to use Naimiria as leverage to negotiate with Raido.

"I see, that was a blind spot."

It's not that he had forgotten about Naimiria.

However, to Raido, Naimiria was not someone he needed to protect, so the idea of her being taken hostage never crossed his mind.

Originally, Naimiria is the "Six Witches of Destruction," a demon who nearly destroyed the world. Although she has lost most of her power due to centuries of sealing, her remaining strength is far beyond that of a normal person.

Even Raido, blessed by the holy sword, would be no match for her without the power of the Darkenslave.

"I see... We should probably place some guards in the mansion. Ideally, I'd like to bring in adventurers from the frontier city..."

The adventurers from the frontier city of Raid are trusted comrades who have shared meals with Raido. They are far more reliable than the clean-cut knights guarding the capital.

However, they have the responsibility of preventing monsters from the southern jungle from entering the city, so they cannot easily leave.

Especially now that Raido, the city's strongest warrior, is away, it would be even more difficult.

(Once the war with the empire is over, I have to face my brother... and Granado. I could use a few more reliable allies...)

However, this is Granado's territory. There are few who would side with Raido.

Even if some appear to be on his side, they might still be under Granado's or the nobles' influence.

(The only possibility is the war with the empire. If I can achieve a visible result here, there will surely be people who will betray Granado and join me.)

To do that, he must achieve an overwhelming result.

Victory is a must, but a decisive victory is necessary.

He must accomplish a feat that surpasses even the achievements of General Daren Galst and other soldiers of the kingdom.

(To achieve that, there is one head I must take... the enemy's holy sword wielder!)

"By the way, Lord Raido. Would you like a bath or dinner first? Or should it be me? It should be me, right!?"

"Your brother's men might attack at any time. I won't be needing your company for a while."

"Whaaaaat!?"

A shockingly loud cry of dismay echoed in response.

Raido, taken aback by the volume, covered his ears and leaned back dramatically.