Chapter 78
The Count’s Domain (8)
“Answer quickly. How much longer do you intend to keep your wife waiting?”
The count could not make sense of the situation.
Where had the Apostle and the mage gone, and why were a mere boy and girl here instead?
Had the report been wrong?
That could not be.
Every cultist of the Wicked God Society was terrified.
The Calamity Book had also foretold the Apostle’s descent.
Although the records had not specified where the Apostle would appear, all the circumstances indicated that he had unquestionably been summoned within the underground complex.
Suppressing his agitation, the count calmly studied Johan and Ilea.
Even with his wife being held hostage, he maintained his grip on reason.
No matter how desperate he felt, he refused to reveal his anxiety.
True to his epithet, the Blue Demon, the count possessed a cold heart.
He spoke.
“Are you servants of the Apostle? I wish to speak with him directly.”
Johan exclaimed in admiration.
“As expected of you, Cromwell. You remain remarkably composed even in a situation like this. No—I suppose I should say you’re exceptionally good at concealing your agitation. Either way, it’s impressive.”
In truth, the count was frantically anxious.
He wanted to rush forward immediately and tear them away from his wife.
Naturally, he did not act on that impulse.
Emotional actions always came at a price.
He needed to determine his opponents’ capabilities and the cards they held before making a move.
The count was both a seasoned negotiator and an experienced combatant.
He said,
“You seem to know me, but I know nothing about you. If you desire a bargain, would you not begin by revealing your identity?”
Johan nodded.
“A reasonable request. Very well, I shall give you my name. Johan von Myatro. You have probably heard it many times.”
The count’s eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.
He must have been considerably surprised.
His connection to Johan ran quite deep.
The moment Johan appeared, the count’s plan to devour the Myatro Barony had fallen apart.
When Krill Myatro took his own life, the count lost his justification.
That was not all.
Campbell, the knight the count had dispatched to the barony as a messenger, had abruptly betrayed House Staviana.
The count had heard the reason from the knight Myra, but he still found it utterly incomprehensible.
Chivalry, after all this time?
No matter how much he considered it, that could not explain the betrayal.
In both incidents involving Johan, the truth of what had happened remained unclear.
The count despised such unknown variables, so he had already been wary of Johan himself.
And now Johan had appeared before him.
As though the completely uncontrollable situation were not already bad enough, the very person who concerned him most had now emerged.
Concealing his agitation as much as possible, the count said,
“You are that illegitimate son of House Myatro?”
Johan chuckled.
“You don’t believe me? Here is your proof.”
He pulled a sheet of paper from inside his clothes and tossed it toward the count.
“…An invitation. The one I sent.”
The count carefully examined the invitation.
The seal stamped upon it was unquestionably the emblem of House Staviana.
There was no evidence of forgery.
Johan said,
“I have revealed my identity. I am your guest. May I now hear your answer to my question?”
Moments earlier, Johan had given the count two choices.
First, follow his wife into the afterlife.
Second, resurrect his wife and grow old alongside her.
The count had yet to answer.
He spoke.
“My apologies, but I still know nothing about you. I would first like to hear about your relationship with the Apostle. I must know whether you possess full authority over the Celestial Womb Palace before any future bargain can be established.”
Ilea smiled gently.
“That would be a reasonable argument if we were equals. Your wife’s life is in our hands. Let’s see whether you say the same thing when the moment comes to decide her fate.”
She abruptly opened the Celestial Womb Palace’s glass lid.
The skeleton inside was left completely exposed.
At the same time, a long icicle formed in midair and slowly began descending.
Straight toward the count’s wife.
The count flinched.
“Do nothing foolish. You must have orchestrated this because you want something from me. If Yeriyan is harmed, I will have no further conversation with either of you. Stop this immediately.”
No answer came.
The icicle merely continued descending toward the skeleton.
The count was overcome with helplessness.
There was no one here who could assist him by force.
He had not even brought a mage or knight with him.
Because of Belzarak, only the count could enter this sealed chamber.
Even Belzarak, his only remaining hope, had failed to answer his summons.
The count stood rigid, unable to act.
The icicle was now on the verge of piercing the skeleton.
Taking a deep breath, the count spoke.
“I was too hasty. Please stop.”
The icicle abruptly halted in midair.
Its point was lightly touching the skull.
Ilea withdrew her mana.
The cold vanished like a mirage.
“Are you finally willing to have a proper conversation?”
Johan glanced at her.
‘A witch truly is a witch.’
She had dug into another person’s weakness without the slightest change in expression.
It served as yet another reminder of her true nature.
Whatever the case, Ilea had thoroughly subdued the count’s spirit.
Johan welcomed that.
The count said,
“…From this moment onward, I shall conduct this conversation under the assumption that you speak on the Apostle’s behalf. Is that acceptable?”
Even after being cornered like this, he remained cautious.
Johan clicked his tongue in exasperation.
“Think whatever you find convenient. Now, let us hear your choice.”
The count answered immediately, without a moment’s hesitation.
“Naturally, I choose the second option. I wish to resurrect my wife.”
Johan spoke with a calm expression.
“Good. I shall fulfill your dearest wish.”
“…You will? Not the Apostle?”
“You may consider me the Apostle, more or less.”
The count was about to object but stopped himself. He merely released a faint breath and asked,
“How do you intend to resurrect her?”
“By using the power of the Celestial Womb Palace. However, I will not corrupt it into a profane relic.”
The count’s eyebrows twitched.
“Are you perhaps unaware? The Celestial Womb Palace cannot be used for personal purposes. That is not a question of ethics. It is an inviolable law—a prohibition.”
The Celestial Womb Palace could be activated only in service of a greater cause.
Mere love could never move it.
The count knew that perfectly well, which was why he intended to corrupt it into a profane relic.
Yeriyan would be reborn as a demon rather than an angel, but the count did not care as long as he could see his wife again.
Johan said,
“I possess a greater cause, so that will not be a problem. I can activate the Celestial Womb Palace.”
“You serve an Apostle, yet you claim to possess a greater cause?”
“Cromwell, let us make one thing clear. I am not subordinate to any Apostle.”
Johan’s expression became solemn.
The count stared at him in puzzlement.
The moment their eyes met, an inexplicable sense of trust welled up within him.
The Eyes of the Great Saint were taking effect.
“…That is a bewildering claim. I find myself even more curious about your relationship with the Apostle.”
“The Thirteenth End and I share the same purpose. For now, that is all you need to know.”
To anyone looking at him, Johan was merely an immature child.
It was difficult to accept rationally that such a boy could stand as the Apostle’s equal, yet a strange belief was nevertheless taking root in the count’s heart.
The count spoke.
“I will ask one final question. What are you to the Apostle?”
Johan clicked his tongue.
“You would not believe me even if I explained it. Confirm it with your own eyes later. We will end that subject here.”
Johan himself was Mapheltan.
Seeing it firsthand would be faster than listening to a hundred explanations.
Surprisingly, the count accepted this without protest.
“Very well, for now. Returning to the matter at hand, please show me some proof that you can activate the Celestial Womb Palace.”
Johan let out an incredulous laugh.
“It was a mistake to call this a bargain. Allow me to correct myself. This is blackmail. From this moment onward, you are in no position to make any demands of me.”
The count was attempting to turn the conversation back into a negotiation.
Johan did not care for that.
He had no intention of allowing himself to be swept along by the count’s intentions.
The count said,
“You need only show me that Yeriyan can truly be resurrected. Surely I require at least some justification for trusting you.”
Johan shook his head.
“All you can do is hope that I keep my promise. Whether you have justification or not, you have no choice.”
“That is not incorrect. However, remember this: a relationship held together solely through weakness will inevitably fall apart. If you wield the whip, you must eventually offer the carrot as well.”
Johan gave a hollow laugh.
“Do not worry. I have already prepared the carrot. Fulfill my demands properly, and Yeriyan will be resurrected.”
The count spoke with a composed expression.
“Then what do you want from me?”
“Give House Myatro your complete support.”
Johan needed a political foundation.
There was no more dependable source of support than House Staviana.
“What specifically do you require?”
“The religious order is investigating the south. First, make them withdraw.”
“That will be easy.”
“In addition, nominate me for a seat on the council.”
The council was the kingdom’s highest decision-making body.
The moment Johan became a member, he would acquire considerable political power.
The count said,
“I could arrange that immediately. Is that all?”
“Of course not. I have one more ultimate objective. In the future, I will separate the Myatro Barony from the kingdom.”
Long ago, the Myatro territory had been a principality.
Johan intended to make House Myatro great once more.
“You intend to become a sovereign prince?”
Johan nodded.
“That remains a matter for the future.”
The count considered it briefly before speaking.
“I will not say that it is impossible. However, it will require a great deal of time and effort. The emperor’s approval will also be necessary.”
The kingdom did not possess the authority to approve the barony’s independence.
Permission had to be granted by the emperor of the empire.
The Holy Kingdom would probably interfere as well.
Even the count could not manipulate both the empire and the Holy Kingdom as he pleased.
Johan said,
“Devote your life to achieving it. The moment I ascend as sovereign prince, Yeriyan will be resurrected.”
The count remained silent for a long time.
After becoming lost in thought, he finally spoke.
“As you know, House Myatro is like a candle before the wind. The religious order is preparing an extensive investigation, and the barony will not escape its consequences. Your relationship with the Apostle will likely be exposed before long as well.”
Most of the recent incidents were connected to the south.
Unless the religious order consisted entirely of fools, it would soon dispatch an investigative team to the region.
The barony would probably collapse.
After all, the territory contained a great deal of evidence concerning Mapheltan.
Johan asked,
“What are you trying to say?”
“It appears that you desperately require my power.”
In truth, Johan would find himself in serious difficulty if the count refused to assist him.
A shadow fell across Johan’s face.
“And?”
“I propose a bargain.”
“I believe I already told you not to make any demands of me.”
The count shook his head.
“Our situations are the same. Each of us holds a blade against the other’s throat. If I die here, will you be capable of handling the religious order?”
That would indeed be extremely difficult.
Johan clicked his tongue.
“Cromwell, I gave you more than enough opportunities.”
He then looked at Ilea.
Ilea wore a sorrowful expression.
“How tragic. Truly.”
At that moment, the icicle descended upon Yeriyan’s head.
Crack—!
The skull shattered into countless fragments.
White powder scattered through the air.
The count could not even open his mouth.
He merely stood there, frozen in place.