Chapter 212 As It Gets Darker (End)

[Storyteller's POV]

At the death of Elijah Crook, the Marquis of Achtreal March, the citizens rejoiced. The soldiers who had always been loyal to him fled the March without looking back; they didn't even bother to counterattack as they received the people's wrath.

Those who had no choice but to join Elijah so they could sustain their lives immediately dropped their weapons and surrendered themselves. A lot of them hadn't killed a single citizen and those who had were forced by the situation.

Because of their love for their home—their March, they wanted to stay even though they had to become slaves to the people whom they had offended during their days of being Elijah's subordinates.

The citizens were sure of their sincerity and only demanded them to forfeit all of their possessions to the March. They didn't have to become slaves but they had to start all over, which was not a problem for them.

Layland ended up staying in the March for two days. He waited until the news of Elijah's death reached the capital and the new ruler of the March was selected.

There was slightly a problem for the latter since the people wanted to appoint him as the new ruler, which he vehemently declined. He knew he would rule over them in the future along with the territories he had conquered, which would make accepting the offer redundant.

After some discussion, Felix, the closest citizen with Layland was chosen as the new ruler. No one made a fuss about it because they believed anyone whom Layland trusted was trustworthy.

"Sir…we thank you deeply for your help."

"You know how to thank me and it is not by bowing like that."

"Still, we want to thank you."

The day of departure had arrived; Layland had to continue his hunt for the Heroes and Felix had to come to the capital to declare Achtreal March's independence. Many of the citizens saw Layland and company off, crowding the gate of March.

All of them still wanted Layland and company to stay a bit longer so they could spend more time together and better express their gratitude. Their gesture was heart-warming but Layland didn't indulge himself in it, for he knew he couldn't let the flow carry him away.

Even though he wanted to convert all of the citizens into Demon advocates, after all, there was no guarantee they would become one. When things didn't go as planned, he had to be ready to kill them, so he couldn't get too close to the people.

"We will help the other territories get their independence to the best we can. We will talk a lot about you, so you may expect people to immediately come to you asking for help…and also to be hated by Nobles," Felix said, ending his words with a wry smile.

"Well, it barely affects my life anyway." Layland shrugged nonchalantly, still sounding as neutral as ever. "Even without you guys running your mouth off of me, I will still be hated by Nobles. In fact, I am already hunted as of now."

"Ah, we will keep it a secret among ourselves to the best we can."

"Forget it. No matter how tight-lipped you want people to be, the secret will leak either way. The more you want to keep it discreet, the easier people will get it. Just let people do their work and let the rumour flow. Let the Nobles and the suppressed people hear about me."

The initial purpose of Layland liberating territories was to create another uproar that would distract the Antares Kingdom from the deaths of the Heroes. He needed this act of his to be known, so he could hunt the Heroes without worrying about them hiding.

"Well, I am going to leave. Good luck at the capital."

"May luck always be on your side, Sir."

After saying his farewell, Layland and company ran toward the forest near the newly liberated territory. The people watched them until they disappeared into the forest before saying their farewell to Felix who was going to the capital.

This day marked the slow fall of the Antares Kingdom and the rapid rise of the shadow that was slowly pulling it down.

….

Although still unannounced, the news about Elijah's fall was already heard by the King and many of the Nobles staying near the capital. They had eyes and ears scattered throughout the Kingdom, so it would be weirder if they hadn't caught the wind of it.

Their first reaction to hearing the news was not worthy of note…that was until they heard about the mysterious third party involved in it. Although not that often, Nobles rose and fell; however, the fact that a third party was aiding it was a source of concern for them.

Having a powerful opponent is terrifying, yet it doesn't beat the terror of having an enemy under one's blanket. The Nobles immediately suspected each other, thinking that one of them wanted to see them fall.

The prejudice was strong; the relationship between them immediately became strained just because of a piece of news and assumption. To clear up the misunderstanding, therefore, when Felix reached the capital, the Nobles held a meeting amongst themselves.

"I like to believe that we don't want to see each other suffer because we came from the same root. I believe none of us initiates this tragedy and I hope none of us is selfish enough to think of ever doing it."

Earls, Countesses, Marquises and Marchionesses gathered in a room, sitting at the big round table in the room whilst looking at each other with suspicion. The atmosphere was so thick that one could cut it like butter.

Upon climbing up the rank, they relied on each other to maintain that rank. They believed in each and maintained a good relationship because they were sure they wouldn't stab each other in the back.

Upon hearing the involvement of a third party in Elijah's fall, they couldn't help suspecting each other. Their short-circuited brains refused to consider that there might be a nobody who was strong enough to take down a Marquis.

"Ah, those looks. This is why I summoned all of you here," one of the Nobles, the sole Duke in the room commented. He was the person who took over the Dukedom Niles had left behind, Hadrian Brontes, Niles' adopted son.

"Rather than accusing each other, it is better to do some investigation first," he added. "Have you heard what the people are talking about now?"

"Tell us, Duke Hadrian. Unlike your father and you, we are not that integrated with the citizen," a Countess replied.

Hadrian smiled. "There is an Adventurer who is dissatisfied by how Nobles rule their territories. He has seen a lot of people suffering under Nobles' rules, so he wants to free them of their misery, which is by helping them liberate their home."

"Do you know what territory he comes from?" he asks with intrigue. "Brontes Dukedom…the other, less developed one. It is very shameful to admit it but it seems my father had done something he shouldn't to that territory of his before he died."

Hadrian, although not the youngest, was a young Duke. The Nobles got that he might still have his na?ve side but none of them expected him to admit his father's wrong that easily.

"Anyway, that is not the point. This guy is a danger but I believe you don't have to worry about him as long as you manage your territory well."

"Are you not afraid, Duke Hadrian? This dangerous person comes from your territory, after all," a Marquis asked with a hint of disdain in his tone.

"Ha-Ha-Ha. I am not, Marquis Damian. He came from the territory I rule, all of. If he was dissatisfied with how I ruled it, he would have liberated it first," Hadrian answered with a smile. "I have revised my father's way of governing a territory and the people are happier than ever."

"Hoh? Do you mind telling us your brilliant way to rule your territory, Duke Hadrian?" the Countess of Averia County, Clementine Averia, asked with mild curiosity.

"Give them some freedom," Hadrian said passionately. "Look at the other half of Brontes Dukedom now after I let them govern their territory by themselves. The monthly income of the territory increases because they don't need to wait for my permission to sell their commodities."

Given the answer, the Nobles coughed uncomfortably. Clementine, especially, had a dissatisfied look on her face. She found the notion highly ridiculous. As someone who had been "allegedly" violated by a commoner, she wholeheartedly detested the idea.

'People are meant to be ruled over,' all of them thought. None of them got what Hadrian envisioned and none of them was willing to let go of their absolute control over their people even though they knew they were not any better than their people.

"Very well, everyone. I hope this meeting clears up the misunderstanding. Given out situation, we should help each other and, of course, do the best for our territories and people. Shall our people love us, we don't have to worry of our fall."

The meeting was concluded with the Nobles agreeing to hold hands and embrace themselves together for the upcoming predicament they might face. None of them showed any intention to change their way of governing their territory.

They thought they were stopping the shadow by shielding their territory from it and none of them realized they were casting a shadow upon their territories. Each day, their territories got darker as the shadow grew bigger.