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The defense operation against the army led by Allen and the raid mission against the enemy commander proceeded simultaneously, fitting together like cogs in a machine. Interrogations to understand the enemy’s situation and level were quickly conducted, revealing glimpses into the ambush strategies devised by Allen Kalia. Accordingly, the placement of defensive armaments like cannons and ballistae was determined.

The strategies, rooted in understandable evidence, received nods of approval from those gathered in the meeting hall of the Marquis family, as well as the knights who would directly lead the soldiers on the front lines.

And from there, the most critical matter arose.

Siabel Shianella began to share details about the interrogation she conducted, revealing insights regarding Allen’s ambush tactics in front of the trustworthy knights and nobles present.

“Allen Kalia’s main objective appears to be the assassination of the head of the Marquis family, Lady Ileyana Kalia. In fact, when I inquired, it was testified that Lady Ileyana is suffering from hallucinations and auditory hallucinations worse than anyone else.”

Lady Ileyana Kalia was not present at the meeting.

Having barely escaped being consumed by a demon that could hardly even be called a succubus, she managed to imprison the demon lord, but remnants of the succubus still seemed to linger. She had yet to completely expel the essence of the demon.

‘Those hallucinations are more deadly for someone with less mana.’

Now, as she had lost the most critical mana as a knight, it would be burdensome for her to drive out the demon’s essence. Since Allen’s purpose is to assassinate my mother, it is likely he is tormenting her more insistently.

Thus, she remained absent from the meeting, choosing to rest in a safe place, expressing her desire to receive updates on the situation separately. It was understandable that she could not attend the meeting.

“As a result of interrogating numerous cultists, I can’t ascertain the exact date of the planned assault, but it seems that Allen Kalia and his closest aides are concocting a scheme to assassinate Lady Ileyana and swiftly seize control of the Marquis family from within.”

However, one might wonder if a cunning fox, who has only ever been a tail-chaser, could really seize the Marquis family simply by killing the head.

Specifically, Eunice Kalia, who was well aware of the Marquis family’s capabilities, posed the question.

“Lady Siabel, no matter how much he has allied with demons, it would be impossible for him to seize the family the moment Lady Ileyana disappears. Isn’t his military strength and the forces that follow him laughably weak in comparison to ours?”

While it is undeniable that he has fallen under the demon’s influences, it would be unreasonable to assert that Allen Kalia lacks cleverness.

As a member of the Marquis family, he would undoubtedly know of their strength. It was only natural for Eunice to be curious about what gave him the audacity to think he could seize the family.

“Although many died under strong constraints during the interrogation, we gained useful clues from the spies who had infiltrated the Marquis family.”

With the mention of the infiltrating spies, a tension and silence filled the room.

“After assassinating the Marquis, he intends to use her as a sacrifice to summon something and seize control of the Marquis family. That is likely the plot he is envisioning.”

Human sacrifice. A grotesque act that cultists commit out of obsession.

The demons summoned through human sacrifices tend to be more powerful if the sacrificed individual holds a higher social status and has been born into an esteemed lineage. Considering she had once been among the best swords in the kingdom, her sacrifice would undoubtedly lead the Marquis family into dire straits.

“Therefore, I propose to reorganize the elite guard to protect Lady Ileyana right here. We will have defensive forces ready for external attacks, as well as suppression squads to quickly quell any unrest within. Lastly, I intend to appoint a commander for the extermination squad to eliminate the corrupted nobles who have forgotten their history.”

As Siabel spoke, Eunice, who had been listening quietly, slowly raised her hand.

“Lady Siabel, I would like to enter as the commander of the elite guard.”

“The elite guard could be the most dangerous position of all, Lady Eunice.”

“Am I not aware of that? But in this situation where my mother is being targeted, it seems only natural for me, as her eldest daughter, to stand by her side.”

The two eldest daughters of their respective families met each other’s gaze.

Siabel could read Eunice’s two truths.

One was pure filial piety, and the other was the political impact her actions would evoke. The elite guard could potentially be more perilous than the extermination squad, and if she performed perfectly in this battle, it would be a perfect wedge for her to ascend to the position of head of the family.

Understanding this, Siabel nodded slightly.

“Very well, my lady. Use the strength you possess to protect the Marquis.”

Eunice would be leading the elite guard.

The subsequent allocation of roles progressed swiftly.

“The defensive forces will be led by Young Master Abel. The suppression squad will consist of Shione, Ray, along with senior knights dividing the regions—”

Siabel’s eyes gleamed sharply.

They say a swordsman’s skills reflect the thoughts of the wielder. The sword Siabel wielded was a treacherous blade that relentlessly tightened around the enemy’s throat.

“The extermination squad will be led by myself, along with the knights, and Lady Diolia.”

Currently, her deadly resolve was directed at Allen.

*

On the day following the meeting.

Lady Ileyana Kalia was still struggling under relentless hallucinations.

Countless imperial soldiers whispered their grievances toward her, while former comrades from her past lost their lives in vain.

“…Are you alright, Mother?”

“I’m fine.”

But she concealed her distress, knowing her eldest daughter Eunice was by her side.

Although she could no longer act as a knight, she could still solidify her position as head of the family.

She felt a sense of reassurance from her grown daughter who worried for her.

The next day.

Lady Ileyana’s hallucinations grew even more severe.

Until now, despite the viciousness of the hallucinations, they had typically shown malicious appearances, yet they had hardly laid a hand on her.

“…This is bothersome.”

The hallucinations began to strangle her neck, occasionally rising up her forearm, gripping it tightly.

Recognizing that it was just an illusion, she felt no suffocating pain, but the sensation was unpleasant nonetheless.

Three days passed.

The estate maintained a high level of vigilance in preparation for Allen’s assault.

Closing the gates and cutting off connections to the outside, they were preparing for war once again, and the increasingly vicious hallucinations continued to torment her.

“Mother, you don’t look well.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“…Your face is pale. I’ll bring a priest.”

With her arms crossed, Lady Ileyana gently opened her eyes, still trying to avoid the hallucinations, only to be met with a cruel sight.

Her daughter was bathed in blood, covered in great wounds. Even though she knew it was an illusion, it was a vision too painful for a mother to accept.

“It might be good to see a priest.”

Lady Ileyana already understood well from numerous attempts that the priest’s blessings would have no effect on her.

“And I know better than anyone that you are striving to guard me by staying away from sleep every day, Eunice.”

At those words, Eunice’s face lit up with pure joy, only for her neck to twist at a bizarre angle in an instant.

Lady Ileyana struggled to hide the trembling fingertips as they crossed her arms.

“…Eunice, it would be good for you to receive the priest’s blessings and regain your strength.”

“Thank you, Mother.”

The daughter with the twisted neck whispered while shedding tears of blood.

Even as she briefly left the room and disappeared from sight, it seemed as though her blood tears, unlike mere hallucinations, would not vanish.

Four days passed.

Lady Ileyana’s mind began to wear down.

In a world tinted in red, all those who weren’t members of the Count’s household wandered about like grotesque undead.

The feeling of being left alone in a maddened world.

Yet, she remained the head of the Marquis family.

She sat in her office, maintaining a distorted, expressionless face. The various estate agendas that had been submitted before her felt as if they vanished, replaced by messages symbolizing demons, filled with grotesque eyes.

“…Mother, it might be best for you to sleep early today.”

Blood splattered on Lady Ileyana’s face.

Her daughter, Eunice, no longer appeared to her as a living human.

Yet, feeling the blood trickle into her eyes, she still silently replied.

“I’m fine.”

“But…!”

“If the head of the family loses sanity in a situation like this, who should the estate residents believe in, Eunice?”

“…”

“Now I can’t even see the letters. Instead, can you read them for me?”

“…I will obey.”

“Good.”

Finally, Lady Ileyana showed a small smile.

And on the fifth day.

With weary eyes, Lady Ileyana.

Silently sitting in her office, casting her vacant gaze around, her eyes were bloodshot.

“Mother, I’m back—”

Before Eunice could finish her sentence, Lady Ileyana sprang to her feet and stood before her.

“Mother?”

“Eunice, stand still for a moment.”

Lady Ileyana touched her daughter’s face, feeling her warmth, and spun around her, waving her hands in the air.

Her actions resembled recovering weapons from a scarecrow impaled with countless swords, and the elderly knight couldn’t help but struggle as the swords wouldn’t budge easily.

It seemed she misused her strength while trying to unsheathe a sword, and she tumbled to the ground, having no time to stay down. Like a weeble, she quickly stood up and repeated the same motion.

A moment of excruciating agony for Eunice. It wasn’t until 20 minutes later that Lady Ileyana finally halted her actions, whispering with a hoarse voice.

“…Go quickly and receive the priest’s blessings. You may rest comfortably today.”

Having said that, she maintained her calm demeanor as she sat in front of her desk, waving her hand.

An empty desk, yet she acted as if she were holding documents and reading them.

“I still have lots of work left, so I’ll keep handling the paperwork.”

Still, she remained the head of the family.

On the sixth day.

“Ah…”

The head of the family spent the entire day fixated on an empty space with a frozen expression.

Despite still being the head and guarding her office, the elderly lady, having lost her mana, succumbed to the hallucinations.

Yet Eunice thought as she personally brought her mother a simple snack.

That was not the ugly figure of a mother defeated by hallucinations, but rather the image of a noblewoman fighting to retain her family’s legacy despite being consumed by illusions.

“Here, try this.”

Eunice offered a simple sandwich that her mother often enjoyed during work and checked the desk.

The desk bore only ink pads and seals, with traces of ink smudged across its surface.

Momentarily glancing at the sandwich, Lady Ileyana accepted the food from her daughter, grasped the seal, and pressed the family crest onto the desk.

“Ah… messed up again.”

Yet she quickly wiped the ink from her already blood-stained palm.

On the fifth day, after hearing about the situation from Eunice, Lady Ileyana sealed documents despite being deceived by the hallucinations, erasing them immediately after and never once issuing a command to proceed with the transactions as they were.

She still fought on.

*

Six days had passed since the meeting ended.

Yet today, the afternoon passed without incident, and just as the fatigue began to set in under the taut tension, that night, due to a special command from Eunice, the entirety of Lady Ileyana’s elite guard was brimming with a fierce sense of pride and duty. Even the other troops forgot their fatigue and fulfilled their roles.

However, one cannot work like a machine, so during a brief break, I called Tania over to teach her and Shione the common language of the continent.

“It’s difficult. Really difficult.”

“The pronunciation is tricky. But you’ll be fine with practice.”

“Why are you so good at it? You’re just a fool who doesn’t know anything other than that.”

“…Why is it that the only thing you say I’m foolish is also pronounced perfectly?”

“They say you learn curses first when learning a foreign tongue.”

…It seems I raised a spirit incorrectly.

I can’t help but think that perhaps all the drama and various video media I’ve shown her have led to this transformation.

Still, watching her gleefully count numbers one by one, cheering as if she’d achieved something, brought me a sense of relief, akin to raising a rebellious teenage daughter.

“Oh, Tania, actually—”

Just then, Shione, who had been watching Tania affectionately from the side, beamed a bright smile and said.

“When we go back to the Count’s house, I’ll become your mother. What do you think?”

What on earth was Shione saying to my spirit this time?

Tania’s face contorted in confusion as she asked.

“How can you be my mom?”

“Well, when Ray and I return to the Count’s house, we’re going to file for marriage.”

“Wait, are you serious?”

Startled, Tania asked me in Korean.

I simply chuckled vaguely, neither affirming nor denying, and the quick-witted Tania seemed to pick up on everything and exchanged glances with Shione.

“Why am I with you?”

“But if I become Ray’s wife, doesn’t that make me your mother?”

“No way. You’re—”

“Yes, Tania is.”

“…What?”

Tania began to giggle mischievously at the startled Shione.

Playful Tania started throwing out phrases in the common language without a moment’s delay.

“Shione, are you a noble? Anyway, doesn’t that mean you have money? Right?”

“…Being a count means we’ve never been short of money, right?”

“Then if our mother doesn’t give my son even a drop of water, she’d die, you know that, right?”

Despite the jumbled pronunciation, Shione’s eyes widened in disbelief, turning her head in confusion.

When Shione looked at me as if questioning whether this innocent spirit should be saying such things, I replied with a bright smile and a nod.

“Our Tania has always been a bit like this.”

“Do you want to die?”

Just then, this brief moment of respite was abruptly interrupted—

Boom—!

A thunderous sound shook the estate. The soldiers of the defense unit sprang into action, breaking their moment of respite.

“The castle walls are under attack!”

Finally, Allen Kalia’s invasion had begun.

 

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