Chapter 156 : Chapter 156

Chapter 156 - To the Summit of the Mountain Range

Four days before the election.

The Youngest Son came to the Dark Moon Grand Castle to prepare for his trip to the Ash Mountains.

There, he saw a face that was familiar but surprising to see.

“…Head Maid.”

Mirea Rara, dressed in her usual clean uniform, politely greeted her master.

“It seems you have returned from a long outing, so I have prepared a bath first. A meal is also ready, so please take a bath first.”

“Alright.”

She treated the Youngest Son as if nothing had happened.

I hadn't heard that her memory had completely returned.

For now, I played along with her attitude and quietly asked Lubosch and the Butler who were approaching me.

“Did she say her memory returned?”

“W-well…? We don't really know either. When I asked Lores, she just said to let her be.”

“From what I can see, it seems her memory has returned, but it is not complete.”

Lubosch, as a fellow Intelligence Department agent, knew what impeccable beings the Grade 1 agents were.

For example, Lubosch had never once been able to pinpoint the Head Maid's location while cleaning the Dark Moon Grand Castle.

His senior, who usually moved like a ghost and appeared like a shadow, was now showing an opening.

“She still can't reproduce her old movements, but she's much better than before. It seems there were no side effects, after all.”

It was because the General Manager of Intelligence was exceptionally fond of his subordinate, Mirea.

Normally, she would have been broken to the point where she couldn't even attempt the shortcut using the Dream Ghost.

“What did she do while I was gone?”

To face the Magic Dragon, I learned curses from Kapus and absorbed knowledge like a sponge.

Two days had passed by the time I left the Great Sorcery Archives, and the Head Maid had arrived before that.

The two who were with her during that time shook their heads.

“Nothing special.”

“There were no unusual actions. It's just that as soon as she arrived, she looked for paper and started writing something down.”

She looked for paper and wrote something. I nodded for now.

“I understand, so go about your business.”

“Okay, okay!”

The Butler couldn't hide the smile that crept up his lips at the Head Maid's full return.

On the other hand, the one whose return story was heading to the Intelligence Department and not Eclipse couldn't straighten his shoulders.

“Um…. Youngest Son-nim.”

“Yes. You'll be returning soon too, won't you.”

“It seems I'll have to go by tomorrow.”

“Still, since you're going after serving as a bloodline-exclusive agent, you'll be promoted quickly when you return.”

The Youngest Son patted his shoulder.

The story about the exclusive agent was a lie, but Lubosch had been a close associate of the Fifth Son, who had constantly been involved in incidents.

The information he had seen and heard must have been considerable, so just compiling that much would be enough for a swift promotion.

He must have known that his success was guaranteed for whatever reason.

“Why the long face? Aren't you happy about returning to your mission? You're going home now. I'm the most envious of you right now.”

“…You don't have to comfort me that much.”

“Comfort? I'm serious.”

He could believe me, as I was one of the people in this world who wanted to go home the most.

With my hands behind my back, I walked through the Dark Moon Grand Castle, and the porter followed for a while.

“Are you sad to leave?”

“To be honest, yes.”

“I feel the same way. No matter who comes from the Butler's department, they won't be able to clean as well as you.”

I hadn't tasted a speck of dust in the Dark Moon Grand Castle for a while.

His cleaning skills were acknowledged by the second great witch, the magic sword, and the demon world noble.

The talent, who would have become a Grade 1 agent long ago if he had gone to the Butler's department instead of the Intelligence Department, chuckled softly.

“Haha. You are quite the joker.”

“I am always serious. And there's no need to feel guilty.”

Lubosch's shoulders flinched.

“…D-did you know?”

“It's all written on your face. My Grade 1 senior is here even after losing her memory, while I can't even quit my low-ranking position, something like that.”

The Youngest Son smirked at the porter's startled face.

“You go back to the Intelligence Department. Try to become the General Manager there.”

“Ye-yes?”

“It's a good picture, isn't it? The family's youngest who was naturally ignored, and the low-ranking agent ordered to watch him. The two of them standing at the top in the future.”

Tak─

I slapped his back hard.

“The agent who watched me has to at least become the General Manager of Intelligence for my reputation to stand when I become the Family Head, don't you think?”

“…Understood.”

“Take the maid corps. It's in place of a severance pay.”

Lubosch no longer followed.

“Thank you, for everything.”

“You're welcome.”

From his spot, he bowed deeply to him who was moving away down the corridor.

He continued to walk ahead, waving his hand a couple of times.

“I will see you at the top.”

A few drops of water fell on the corridor that had been polished this morning.

***

After bathing and changing clothes, the Head Maid appeared with the document.

“Please read it.”

“Alright. Let's see.”

I had been curious the whole time I was washing off the grime accumulated on my body from the archives.

Why was she in such a hurry to find paper as soon as she arrived, even when her memory wasn't fully intact?

The document I looked at made me laugh involuntarily.

“A Labor Contract?”

The Head Maid nodded as if it were a matter of course.

“I am now released from the Intelligence Department and am formally under your command, Youngest Son-nim. I am not someone else's subordinate, but your subordinate.”

“And so, there's a need for us to treat each other fairly.”

“That is correct.”

Right. I understood that much.

The problem was the most important part for the worker.

“But tell me. Why is there no amount for your wage?”

“Because it cannot be defined by an amount.”

I could see why it couldn't be defined because it was written there.

“…What is this personal satisfaction of yours that you're saying you'll work for free?”

Words that made me want to call the labor board were written brazenly.

The employer was horrified, but the worker herself was unfazed.

“I do not regret it. Please proceed as is.”

“……”

An opportunity that was too good, without any drawbacks, was sometimes bound to be suspicious.

“I have already signed it, so you just need to sign, Youngest Son-nim.”

“…Alright.”

“For your information, the contract period is for life.”

The employer, feeling a serious sense of unease at the employee's declaration of lifelong service, finished signing.

The Head Maid snatched the completed contract, rolled it up, and carefully placed it in her bosom.

I had definitely read it carefully and signed it as the employer, but I felt strongly that I had been scammed.

The Head Maid cleared her throat and changed the subject.

“I heard you are going to the Ash Mountains.”

“Yes. I've washed up and eaten, so I should be on my way soon.”

“I heard about your plan from Edwin through a Messenger Ghoul.”

It was awkward for her to make such a sour face after saying she had heard the plan.

I stood up, avoiding the Head Maid's eyes, and checked the Skeleton Soldiers to be used for Exploding Bone.

There were dozens of soldiers right now, but they were not enough to face the Magic Dragon.

I would have to kill the monsters that pop out while climbing the Ash Mountains to replenish them.

For now, I had to avoid the Head Maid's glare.

“This plan is the best. While the clone holds back Older Brother at Pandemonium Hall, I'll bring the Magic Dragon to its knees and stop Older Brother.”

“You said the reason the Magic Dragon is needed is because the Magic Dragon is the First Son-nim's top priority.”

“Yes. Without the Magic Dragon, Older Brother has no reason to covet the citadel, and he can't immediately take a citadel defended by the Magic Dragon.”

“Do you plan to kill the First Son-nim on the spot?”

The Youngest Son smiled faintly and looked back at her.

“Do you think the knight legion led by Older Brother is called the Undead for nothing? I can kill Older Brother with the Magic Dragon, but the stage is the problem.”

It was a war to use Dusk Citadel, so it would be a big problem if the citadel itself collapsed.

A battle between the Undead and a Magic Dragon could not possibly be small.

“Not just the citadel, but the surrounding area will become ruins. Older Brother knows he'll die, so he can't attack recklessly either.”

For one reason or another, the Magic Dragon was the most important key in the future fight against the First Son.

The more I acted to live as the Youngest Son, the faster the game's story progressed.

Soon, perhaps at this very moment, I might receive the Family Head's gift.

Because the current Family Head wanted the eldest and youngest to grow faster through mutual checks in their fight.

And that wish was coming true.

“I should get going now. See Lubosch off well.”

“That problem remains. What will you do about the basic management of the Dark Moon Grand Castle from now on? Now that Lubosch is gone, the vacancy needs to be filled.”

“A letter to the Butler's department… no. Let's put it off for a bit for now.”

“Understood. Please return safely.”

“I hope so too.”

I went down to the main gate of the Dark Moon Grand Castle.

This place, a workplace for only one person, had the Gatekeeper standing like a pillar.

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes.”

“You're leaving after being here for such a short time. If you were going to do this, you shouldn't have come back at all.”

“I have to see our Gatekeeper getting older, so I have to stop by, even if it's for a moment.”

The two never looked at each other and just chuckled lowly.

Then, it was the Gatekeeper who spoke first.

“I heard you are going to catch the Magic Dragon.”

“Yes.”

“Be on your way.”

“Is that all?”

“Should there be more? It's not like you're going to die.”

Well, that was true. He was being a pain today.

“How much longer is your banishment from the Execution Department?”

“9 years and 3 months left.”

“So you're counting. How pathetic.”

“……”

A look that said ‘should I hit him’ stabbed at the Youngest Son.

In the end, he pathetically won and, as the victor, placed his foot on the anchor of the Ashen Queen.

“Do you know what I said to the Family Head-nim at the last banquet?”

“What did you say?”

The question, asked in the hope that he would quickly get lost, brought an unexpected answer.

“I said I would become the ruler of the Five Families.”

“…You're not at an age to be senile yet.”

“I came this far in 7 months. But where will I be in 7 years?”

“……”

“Aren't you curious?”

The anchor carrying the Youngest Son was quickly reeled up.

“See you later. Take care of the house.”

The Gatekeeper watched the Ghost Ship disappear into the clouds.

It was a scene unimaginable 7 months ago.

Yes. What would that guy look like in 7 years?

The imagination that was briefly mobilized soon turned to bubbles out of irritation for even having such a thought.

Who cares. Just don't die.

***

The Ash Mountains, where the First Son had stayed for 10 years.

When the player character comes here, they feel very cold at first.

The screen borders froze, and the field of view narrowed.

Because the climate here was truly murderous.

It was so cold that even Enad, who didn't practically have a body, could feel the cold.

[You should have worn more. What confidence made you wear only one coat?]

“Only one coat? Soon I'll be covered in fur from head to toe.”

For now, I suppressed the cold and trudged through the snowfield.

I couldn't go straight to the summit with the Ghost Ship.

To be precise, I could, but the moment I met the Magic Dragon in the sky, there would be no answer.

Basically, things imbued with demonic power had an advantage over all undead, so it could even tear the Ghost Ship apart.

Also, I had to collect hearts from around the midway point here to buy time for the high-grade curse to activate.

Just as a bullet doesn't hit the moment you shoot, even though the curse construction on both forearms was complete, it needed casting time.

“Should I drop a few drops around here?”

I cut my fingertip and let a drop of blood fall.

The blood of a direct descendant of the Vampire Queen flowed well without freezing even in this cold.

The red dots on this white canvas-like place were brief.

Kuooooh─!!

“It's here.”

[What is.]

If the Magic Dragon tears the Ghost Ship, that thing tears people.

The sky, the things falling from the sky, and even the ground were all white, so it was not easy to distinguish.

But it was definitely running from over there.

Driven mad by the strong scent of blood it had never smelled before, it ran on all fours.

Every time that white-furred bear leaped, a blizzard erupted on both sides and rocks shattered.

“There comes my clothes.”

[Blood Stream Sorcery]

[Curse of Slashing]

Like when I faced Kapus, I unraveled countless threads of blood.

They fluttered like the tentacles of a jellyfish in the ocean, but what they held was different from before.

“I just need to take the heart. The leather will come later.”

I dragged the hand with the magic circle horizontally.

The countless threads fluttered and were dragged along, covering the white bear.

The red dots that had been a few on the white canvas turned into a complete mess.

“Now I can live.”

I turned the white bear into a Skeleton Armor and wore it.

My whole body felt warm, so there would be no problem reaching the very top of the mountain range.

Hwareureureureu─

The Youngest Son, who even summoned Enad onto his shoulder, lifted his chin.

I had come to the midway point, but the summit, still a long way off, was not even visible.

“Let's go up.”

To the Magic Dragon above.

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