Chapter 287

[Translator - Kie]

[Proofreader - Kawaii]

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Chapter 287: More Secrets (2)

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After the time for the rehabilitation session ended, Damien summoned the undead in front of Veronica.

"Well, are you convinced now?"

"...You could have just shown me the undead from the beginning instead of hitting me!"

Veronica angrily rubbed the top of her head, her tone and expression filled with frustration. However, when Damien raised his club again, she quickly fell silent.

"...Since when were you a necromancer?"

"It's a long story. There's no need for you to know."

Veronica glared at Damien. She was clearly displeased with his answer.

"Does your family know?"

"No, they don't. So don't tell them."

Even if this secret were to come out, Damien's family wouldn't report him to the Church. But they would definitely be troubled by it, and Damien didn't want that.

"But if you're a necromancer, doesn't that mean you don't have to fight Pandemonium?"

"I only use dark magic; I'm not a necromancer."

Veronica frowned instantly.

"What kind of nonsense is that?"

"I've never killed anyone to use dark magic."

"But you still use dark magic, don't you? Doesn't that make you a necromancer?"

"If I were a necromancer, why would I have killed the members of Pandemonium?"

"Well, that's true, but..."

Veronica furrowed her brows, looking somewhat convinced but still uneasy.

"Anyway, that's not the important thing right now."

Veronica brushed off the fact that Damien practiced dark magic as if it were no big deal.

Damien was inwardly impressed by her straightforward attitude. He hadn't expected her to take it so lightly.

'Well, even in her past life, her thinking was quite different from others.'

In her past life, Veronica was a madwoman who rose to the Master Class because she loved killing so much. Despite the notoriety that spread across the continent, she had immediately rejected Dorugo's offer to join forces.

Was it because Dorugo was a necromancer? Because he was fighting against humanity? No, she hadn't refused for any noble reason.

- What? Destroy humanity? Then there won't be any humans left for me to kill!

She had refused Dorugo's proposal for that single reason. And then, she lost her life at Damien's hands.

"But it's kind of strange. Why should I fight against Pandemonium?"

Suddenly, Veronica's expression turned serious.

"I'm well aware of Pandemonium. It's the place where the most dangerous dark mages and dark knights in the world gather. And you want me to fight such dangerous force?"

She shook her head as if it were an absurd idea.

"Do you think I'm a fool? I'm not doing it, so find someone else."

Damien stared silently at Veronica, but this time she seemed determined not to change her stance.

"As I said, I have nothing to gain from this, so I have no intention of getting involved."

"...."

"But we've known each other for a long time, and... I've grown somewhat attached. If you meet one condition, I'll accept your offer."

Veronica pointed to the ground with her finger.

"Kneel and ask politely. Oh, and don't forget to call me 'Lady Veronica.'"

"What is it?"

"Do you really intend to trust that woman?"

Dominico spoke with a face full of unease. Unlike Dominico, Veronica wasn't bound by any master-servant relationship, and she had no reason to fight against Pandemonium.

"I trust her." Damien replied without hesitation.

"Don't misunderstand. I'm not trusting her because of her words."

He knew that a promise extracted through force wouldn't last long. Damien had another reason for trusting Veronica.

"She has really 2 brain cells, but she's not one to break a promise. And..."

Damien thought of his mother and Veronica, recalling a face akin to that of a pouting child. Today was the first time he had seen Veronica make such an expression.

"What other reason is there?"

"It's nothing." Damien said, shaking his head.

"I'll leave a potion here. Push her to the brink of death if you have to. By the time I return, make sure she's reached the Master Class."

Damien believed in Veronica's potential. She had become a Master because she enjoyed killing people a lot. If given the right trigger in this life, she could reach the Master Class again.

"My lord, you don't mean to say you're leaving, do you?"

"Yes, I'm leaving right away."

In the current situation, where he couldn't predict Dorugo's next move, he couldn't afford to waste any time.

Damien needed to head to Alfheim as quickly as possible to thwart Dorugo's plans.

"Leaving now? Shouldn't you at least say goodbye to your family?"

Dominico suggested cautiously. Having spent considerable time with Damien, he knew how much his lord cherished his family.

"...No, it's better this way. If I do, I'll just want to stay longer."

Damien replied, shaking his head. There was no time for sentimentality; he could indulge in such moments after Dorugo was dealt with.

"Dominico, I trust you. Coordinate with Kilo and protect the castle."

With those words, Damien left Spring castle.

* * *

Damien headed straight for Alfheim. When people think of elves, they often picture forests, and indeed, Alfheim was located within a forest surrounded by ancient trees over a thousand years old.

However, instead of heading towards a mountainous forest, Damien made his way to a port.

'Alfheim is situated on a large island.'

The reason people had been unable to find Alfheim for so long was simple: it was a nation built on a massive island.

In fact, it was questionable whether 'island' was an appropriate term, as its area was far larger than that of the Apple Kingdom.

'The problem is locating the island...'

During his time as a death knight, Damien had invaded Alfheim under Dorugo's orders, so he knew its approximate location. However, he didn't have the exact coordinates.

'I might have to search the entire surrounding sea...'

As Damien stood by the dock, deep in thought, a voice interrupted him.

"You're quite an intriguing person."

He turned to see a small woman with long and pointed ears. Damien was visibly taken aback.

"An elf?"

The existence of elves was a closely guarded secret. Seeing one standing openly at the harbor was shocking.

"How did an elf end up here...?"

"I'm just as surprised as you."

Elf replied, glancing at the back of Damien's hand.

"I never thought I'd actually meet someone who has traveled back in time."

***

[Translator - Kie]

[Proofreader - Kawaii]