The absence of the Black Knights indicated they had not followed for the funeral rites, which allowed me to begin assessing the situation and organizing the scene myself.
Out of a total of 31 members, only two were injured, and those injuries were minor, meaning we had suffered no significant losses.
"Oh dear…"
"Seriously."
As I finished counting heads, Krang appeared, scratching the back of his head. He couldn't even meet my gaze, instead focusing on anything but me.
Frustrated, I shot him a direct question.
I had trusted him to be there.
"You said the Gutra family keeps their promises, right? What's this? Is a mercenary's life not worth punctuality?"
"Uh, um. Sorry about that," he stammered.
"Did you really just leave me to die because you didn't want to teach me?"
"What nonsense! I just got caught up in taking a shower and lost track of time!"
"If you had time for a bath, you could have come by tomorrow."
"I said I'm sorry! It was a genuine mistake. You know how it is when you get older; things slip your mind."
Krang seemed embarrassed as he quickly healed the two injured members.
A green aura enveloped their bodies, and their wounds closed with a shimmering light.
'Oh, his healing magic is quite impressive.'
After all, having a healer is essential for mercenaries.
With someone of Krang's caliber, it was likely he had trained in healing magic himself.
He approached me with a cheeky grin.
"Anyway, as an apology, I won't charge you for this month's training fees."
"Is it just 100 gold coins? Is my life worth that little?"
"Come on! You're being ridiculously picky for such a young guy. If you don't like it, just quit."
"Three months' worth."
"What…?"
"For the next three months, I won't pay any training fees."
"...You're such a damn highway robber."
Despite his grumbling, he seemed to understand and licked his lips in agreement.
A mercenary who failed to keep promises had no grounds to argue.
As we reorganized our ranks, Krang remarked with interest.
"But what happened here?"
"I'll explain when we get back."
He scanned the wreckage around us and confirmed the presence of a mangled corpse.
Upon closer inspection of the face, he clicked his tongue in disbelief.
"This guy… It's Rook! Why is the deputy commander of the Billy family dead here?"
"Is he really that important?"
"He was close to reaching seventh circle as a mage. Did the Black Knights come through here?"
I shrugged my shoulders.
What would he think if I told him Temud's spirit had swept them all away with just one word? This was probably better kept secret.
When I glanced at my attendant, she nodded as if she understood.
'Will she keep this secret well? While I trust her with much else, she might spill it to Genedine.'
Before Krang arrived, I had asked my party to keep what happened last night confidential.
They all promised to take my secret to their graves since I saved their lives; however, my attendant was in close proximity to Genedine.
'Well, it doesn't matter.'
Since there was no video recording in the crystal ball, even if she spoke about it, understanding the exact situation would be difficult.
They would never learn that Temud's spirit assisted me.
It would be best to maintain strict secrecy moving forward.
"Huh?"
A coughing sound broke through as Grace emerged from her watery prison.
She looked disheveled as she glanced around before slowly raising her lips into a smile.
"Hah! What? No one's here?"
I wasn't sure what she meant by "no one," but remaining still seemed wise at this point.
"Heh heh! What luck! Zed Arahan, I'll kill you here—slowly and painfully!"
It appeared she was completely unaware of her surroundings.
When I tilted my head in confusion, Krang burst into laughter.
If she wanted to kill me, she should have woken up before my master arrived!
"Ha ha ha! That woman?"
"Yes, indeed."
"Look at those eyes filled with venom. She's quite the piece of work."
As we casually conversed, Grace's lips twisted grotesquely.
"How dare these insects…?!"
Thud—!
In an instant, Grace's body slammed into the ground without warning.
She collapsed as if struck from behind without any context or warning.
It seemed she struggled to rise but couldn't move an inch; fear replaced her previously fierce gaze.
She must have recognized the magic's nature by now.
"T-This is…!"
The gravity field spell known as Gravitational Field (중력장) was at play here.
While space manipulation typically affected an entire area, Krang was applying it solely to Grace.
This meant he was a high-ranking mage capable of controlling spatial manipulation at will.
'The more I learn about him, the more impressive he becomes.'
I began seeing Krang in a different light altogether.
Could an eighth-circle mage control spatial manipulation so freely?
From what I recalled it was typically ninth-circle level magic—but my memory was hazy at best.
"Ha ha! You've gotten greedy and ended up like this. Your crime will not go unpunished."
"W-Who are you?! How can you use Gravitational Field…! No—why are you next to Zed?!"
"Tsk tsk tsk…"
Krang raised his hand.
Grace's body lifted off the ground as chains of wind wrapped around her entire form like a toy being played with by a child—a sight that left everyone astonished.
Meanwhile, Krang maintained his composure as if nothing were amiss while grinning widely.
"We should hurry along now; your father is waiting impatiently."
"I could teleport us there in an instant if we just needed to reach near the territory."
"Oh please! These days everyone wants convenience at every turn!"
"I'm asking nicely. Everyone is exhausted!"
"For using my services? That'll be 100 gold coins."
"…I think I'll just walk."
"To move this many people requires considerable energy on my part!"
"I'll walk."
I signaled for my party to start moving out.
The Arahan estate felt like it was on edge—like a storm about to break loose.
News of events from Trimmon Mountain had already reached Genedine; servants trembled in fear throughout the estate.
The lord's fury permeated every corner of the mansion.
"Be especially cautious today regarding your behavior."
"Yes, Lady Attendant."
We needed to tread carefully to avoid drawing any ire from him; Genedine wasn't some mindless tyrant who killed indiscriminately without reason—but this incident was on another scale entirely.
Just then, Zed—the focal point of this incident—arrived at the mansion.
The attendant hurried over and bowed deeply before Arahan's seventh lord.
"You've arrived, Lord Zed."
"And where is Father?"
"He is waiting for you. Please follow me."
Yesterday he had arrived so late that dawn was approaching by then; rather than going directly to the mansion he took time to rest at his smaller estate first.
It was customary for him to meet with the lord after funeral rites concluded—but that too was Zed's decision since he had much on his mind and Genedine would be difficult enough to face while clear-headed after all that transpired last night.
Creeeak.
The attendant opened the door to Genedine's office.
A chilling aura seeped through the cracks before enveloping us completely upon entry.
"..."
Genedine sat in the highest chair within that room—having spent all night sitting there instead of sleeping; not even slightly disheveled or out of sorts now either.
He resembled a corpse—motionless until slowly lifting his eyelids upon hearing Zed approach him.
"You've come."
"I pay my respects to you, Lord."
His voice remained calm and steady—but Zed could sense simmering rage beneath its surface.
Genedine regarded his youngest son kneeling before him clad in Arahan's cloak adorned with black flames—a sign perhaps that he had earned his place among them today?
Zed radiated an intensity unlike any other time before; Genedine immediately recognized that something within his youngest had deepened significantly since their last encounter.
"There have been many events transpiring," Genedine stated flatly.
"Yes indeed, Father."
"You've endured much hardship; you've proven yourself worthy enough to wear that cloak now—those elders who love to chatter will no longer dare question your position."
Zed received recognition for achieving lordship status at just 15 years old—a feat usually granted only upon reaching 20 years old—and now faced no resistance from elders who previously sought power through manipulation over him due solely because they were aligned with older brothers' factions!
Yet this time they'd remain silent like bees with honey stuck in their mouths!
'Still didn't expect praise though…'
While praise from Genedine may seem trivial—it held weight coming from him nonetheless!
Even Lady Attendant watched wide-eyed while hidden within shadows observing everything unfold before her eyes…
"Let them enter."
What began as warm praise quickly turned icy again after one command from Genedine sent chills throughout everyone present within those walls!
Why did fear always accompany fire families? Zed pondered briefly before turning back towards where they brought Tunda and Grace into view…
'At least they weren't dead yet.'
The mages dragged Tunda and Grace forward while tightly binding their hands with mana-suppressing shackles ensuring they could not use any magic whatsoever against anyone present here today!
Soon enough they knelt down before Genedine who showed little interest towards these insects rather than focusing instead solely upon Zed standing nearby…
"I received requests asking for leniency regarding their fates; what are your reasons?"
Genedine asked without even glancing towards those guilty parties kneeling below him…
Zed slowly lifted his head and began articulating thoughts he'd organized since last night regarding this matter…
"Please grant Tunda Arahan another chance."
"A chance? How amusing."
"There lies infinite potential within Arahan bloodlines which can benefit our family greatly."
"What advantage could someone merely controlled by a mere housekeeper possibly bring?"
"That used to be me too."
In that instant Zeds voice dropped low enough causing even Genedine's expression shifted slightly showing signs of disturbance creeping across his features…
Everyone present swallowed hard feeling tension rise thickly within air surrounding them all!
"You discarded him simply due lack of mana didn't you?"
"Zed…"
"Tunda remains young still; youth embodies boundless opportunity ahead! Moreover isn't he also blood related directly through Lord Arahan himself?"
Last night had led Zed down this path toward making such arguments clearly defined within mind…
To Zed killing one's own child felt inherently wrong regardless whether they were siblings or otherwise—even amidst schemes involving brotherly rivalry ingrained deeply within Arahan culture itself!
Genidine paused momentarily contemplating what Zeds words meant while weighing options carefully before finally responding again…
"I believed you'd shed weakness…"
"I have done so indeed! No wait—I never possessed weakness whatsoever—I merely seek ways utilizing Tunda Arahan under my command rather than pitying him!"
"You'd use your brother as leverage? Do you truly think such ideas hold merit?"
"If I grow strong enough then absolutely!"
"Hah…"
Genidine let out an exasperated sigh filled with disbelief over what kind of absurdity lay before them both right now…
To consider keeping one's own brother under control sounded ludicrous even coming from someone like himself who understood fully how treacherous familial bonds could prove dangerous when left unchecked!
'Yet Zeds determination seems unwavering despite risks involved…'
Then suddenly laughter erupted forth breaking tension filling room entirely causing everyone else nearby jump slightly startled by sudden outburst echoing throughout hallways beyond sightlines…
Genidine chuckled heartily watching youngest son display such confidence radiating off him freely without hesitation whatsoever!
"What boldness indeed!"
His laughter faded gradually leaving behind warm smiles lingering still long after words spoken aloud faded away entirely into silence once again…
"Very well then; Tunda shall serve one year confinement within underground prison—but conditions shall allow continued training opportunities during sentence served accordingly."
"That sounds fair enough—thank you!"
"And Grace Moné shall be dealt with personally according your wishes."
"Thank you very much."
Just as everything seemed settled down peacefully between them both—Zeds head lowered humbly preparing bow respectfully once more when suddenly…
"But I cannot simply let those insects go free…"
Genidine's eyes blazed red hot igniting flames burning brightly behind them sending shivers racing down spines nearby witnessing such fury unleashed upon unsuspecting targets awaiting punishment soon enough…