A Purification Bureau Like Any Other.
Yohan, as always, had reported to the purification office and was tending to his duties.
On his desk, documents, maps, and reports were spread out.
Although the duke had sent a letter regarding his upcoming wedding, Yohan still had time left in his service to Francia and tasks to handle, so that matter was for later.
Standing before Yohan, Elena read through a document.
“Summary report. We are scheduled to close a demonic lair in the western empire in a week. There is one special-grade lair, and the rest are at least first-grade.”
Rustle.
She turned the pages and continued her explanation.
“In the west lies the Cantabile County. Leading the Celestial Knights there is Margrave Antares Cantabile, who has reached the level of a special-grade knight.”
The demonic lairs in the western empire had long been a headache. Their high ranks and sheer numbers made them difficult to manage. As a result, the imperial family had granted Antares Cantabile the title of count, tasking him with defending the west.
That was about the extent of Yohan’s knowledge regarding the empire’s western region.
“What is the combat strength of the Celestial Knights?”
“They rank fourth among the knight orders in the empire.”
“Hmm.”
Yohan nodded.
Ranking fourth, even including the Imperial Knights and the Perbache Knights, meant they were a considerable force.
With their assistance, casualties could be minimized.
“Send a letter to the Cantabile County. Inform them that we will be closing the western demonic lairs and to prepare accordingly.”
“Understood.”
Nodding, Elena finished her report and returned to her seat. She pulled out a pen and some paper, immediately drafting the letter.
“….”
Yohan turned his attention to his other tasks, but a shadow loomed over his expression. His usually composed face seemed particularly grim today.
Rudbeckia, watching Yohan, she swallowed nervously.
Since that day when they had lunch together, the day she confessed her feelings, his expression had remained dark.
Had he not liked her?
Was it only because she was his aide that he hadn’t outright rejected her?
Or was it that he couldn’t bring himself to say anything because of lingering memories?
The more she thought about it, the tighter her chest felt.
She had turned back time to earn this golden opportunity what if she ended up being disliked again?
A storm of anxiety, fear, and countless negative emotions swirled inside her head.
She fidgeted with her fingers, stealing glances at him.
‘Was I too hasty…?’
Thinking back, she realized she had indeed been too rash.
They hadn’t even grown close yet, and she had already laid bare her true feelings. It wasn’t the most rational move.
‘Oh, no…’
Inside the office, where everyone was focused on their work,
Rudbeckia clutched her head.
She had let her emotions take over, only to trigger Yohan’s wariness.
That hardened face was proof of it.
If only his expression had been dark from the start, she could have assumed he was simply in a bad mood and left it at that.
“Uhhuhuk…”
Rudbeckia let out a small, trembling sob.
She had prepared so thoroughly, only to make a mistake over something so trivial.
She wasn’t worthy of Yohan’s heart.
‘What do I do? I was planning to ask him to have dinner together tonight…’
She stole another glance at Yohan’s face.
His expression was still grim.
‘Was he just not feeling well lately? Maybe he was just tired?’
‘Yeah, maybe he just hasn’t been getting enough sleep.’
But… that didn’t seem to be the case.
There was strength in his voice and his gaze.
That meant—rather than simple fatigue—he was either troubled by something or feeling uneasy.
‘As I thought…’
No matter how positively she tried to spin it, the only logical conclusion was that her confession that day had caused a problem.
Rudbeckia lowered her head.
“Hhhuuuuh…”
And she sobbed again.
Though, in truth, she wasn’t actually crying.
She was simply despairing over her own mistake.
Of course, Yohan’s dark expression had nothing to do with Rudbeckia.
If anything, he had finally decided to look at her properly.
The real reason for his grim demeanor was something entirely different, he had no idea how to explain the situation to Duke Ferbache, whom he would be meeting soon.
Even as he focused on his work, the thought refused to leave his mind.
‘Damn it. No matter how I think about it, I can’t find a way out of this.’
He shut his eyes tightly and pressed his fingers against his temples.
His head throbbed.
He had no confidence in explaining this mess to his future father-in-law.
Sure, the duke could be convinced if he just listened to the reasoning.
After all, it was Rudella’s accumulated evidence that had played a decisive role in bringing down the crown prince.
But would he even listen?
Yohan’s conclusion was a resounding ‘Absolutely not.’
Imagine the man’s only daughter bringing home a lover, only to hear that he practiced polygamy.
If Yohan were in his shoes, he would have put a bullet in the man’s head on the spot.
That thought alone was enough to keep his expression dark.
Naturally, Rudbeckia had no way of knowing this, leaving her to stew in unnecessary anxiety…
“…..”
“…..”
The office was wrapped in an odd silence.
Only the worries of one man and the regrets of one woman remained.
* * *
As time passed, the day of the operation arrived.
The knights of the Purification Hall and the Public Office entered the western region of the Empire, the territory of Count Cantabile, with a sense of tension.
Their nervousness was understandable. Unlike before, this time, a top-tier demonic cave existed, and even the lowest-ranking one was at level 1.
The reason the Cantabile family could remain steadfast in such a perilous region was thanks to the strength of the Celestial Knights. The assistance from the Public Office in managing the demonic caves also played a role.
Still, it didn’t change the fact that living here was incredibly difficult.
“The atmosphere in Count Cantabile’s territory is definitely rigid.”
She was assigned to the 1st Division this time, which was why she was with Yohan.
Of course, Yohan hadn’t assigned her to the 1st Division out of personal feelings. It was simply because the 1st Division, where Yohan was, was at the center of the operation.
“With so many demonic caves around, and with their high rankings, life here must be incredibly tough. They probably lack not only food but also any luxury goods.”
The existence of demonic caves was a burden not just for the lord but also for the people of the territory.
Even though tax rates were low and there was support from the imperial family, the region was inherently unstable.
“Well, that makes sense… Before they can do anything else, they have to spend resources on managing the demonic caves.”
Maintaining an order of knights and soldiers required enormous costs, but since the land itself didn’t yield much, it was even more challenging.
Yohan nodded in agreement.
“Exactly.”
“It would’ve been better if there were no demonic caves at all…”
“Indeed. It’s unfortunate.”
“Hm…”
At Yohan’s vague response, Francia carefully observed his face before asking him a question.
“Are you worried about something?”
“…Worried?”
“Well, Yohan, your expression right now…”
Francia pressed her finger lightly against the space between her brows, furrowing them as if mimicking his expression. With her other hand, she shaded her face from the sun, casting a shadow over her features.
“Looks like this, you know?”
“Ah.”
Only then did Yohan realize that his mind had drifted elsewhere.
Francia, holding the reins with one hand, gently touched her cheek with the other before smiling.
“You’re not nervous about this deployment… Are you still afraid of meeting my father?”
She hit the nail on the head.
“I suppose so…?”
From the duke’s perspective, it must have been infuriating. Yohan had spoken as if he would remain devoted, yet in the end, he had taken a concubine. Even Yohan himself found it absurd, how much more so would his father-in-law?
“Don’t worry too much,” Francia said with a soft smile.
“If you explain everything properly and show what has changed as a result, my father will understand.”
“…”
“If you’re really uneasy, I can speak to him first. That way, he’ll have time to cool off before you talk.”
It was a good idea, but hiding behind his wife didn’t sit well with Yohan as a man.
He let out a small chuckle and shook his head.
“…It’s fine. I’ll speak to the Duke myself.”
He was smiling, but it wasn’t really a smile.
“Minister! The Margrave of Cantabile has arrived!”
While Yohan was silently shedding invisible tears over his future, the margrave arrived in person.
Now, it was time to discuss the operation and prepare for deployment.
“Let’s go.”
Dismounting from his horse, Yohan walked forward to meet the margrave.
* * *
Western Rogino Empire.
A land thick with ominous energy, teeming with demon lairs, both in number and rank.
The beasts that inhabit this region are at least Grade 1, with rare Special Grade creatures often roaming in packs.
It was also the ideal place for practitioners of dark magic to thrive.
Late at night, in a forest blanketed by dense, low-hanging mist.
A man in a pitch-black robe stood before a massive stone gate.
To an outsider, it would appear to be nothing more than ruins.
But as one approached, the stone wall would melt away like flowing water, revealing a path veiled in black mist.
Following that path led to a damp underground staircase, where ominous whispers and the thick stench of dark energy lingered, numbing the senses.
The air was heavy and chilling.
The darkness was so dense it felt alive, breathing.
The longer one stayed, the more their mind would blur.
Black candles flickered in the gloom, casting long, twisted shadows upon the walls.
“-! –!”
“—!”
Strange sounds echoed through the void.
Whispers of an unknown source.
Distant laughter from somewhere unseen.
A distorted reflection in an ancient mirror.
As the man stared into the glass, his body was drawn into its depths.
“You’ve arrived.”
He opened his eyes.
A massive round table stood before him.
Seated around it were individuals covered in jet-black tattoos—Special Grade dark sorcerers.
“What news?”
The sorcerer at the head of the table asked.
His body bore more tattoos than anyone else in the room, an undeniable mark of his power.
“…The Saint has arrived.”
At those words, murmurs rippled through the room.
“So he’s finally reached the west…”
“We must deal with him here!”
“We can’t just stand by and watch!”
Saint Yohan.
The goddess’s chosen agent, tasked with purging dark energy and sealing demon lairs.
A blasphemer who denied the path of dark magic and desecrated the King of Death.
The most feared enemy of all dark sorcerers.
“Enough.”
The head sorcerer raised a hand, silencing the rising tension in an instant.
His voice was cracked, his eyes flickering with a dark, ominous energy.
“Saint Yohan’s arrival is not a setback—it is an opportunity.”
He stood, spreading his arms wide.
Whoosh!
A surge of black energy filled the chamber, coalescing into an obsidian skull.
“This is our domain.”
His voice rumbled low and steady.
“Saint Yohan rejects dark magic, denies our path, and insults the King of Death.”
The sorcerers’ eyes gleamed with a sinister red light.
“We will offer his blood to the King.”
Black energy surged across the round table.
“This false world will crumble. The so-called Saint and the Obsidian Maiden will be swallowed by darkness.”
The unease that had gripped the sorcerers slowly faded, replaced by conviction.
Each of them bore unique, inky black tattoos etched deep into their flesh.
“Once Saint Yohan and his foolish knights begin restoring the rift, we strike.”
A deadly glint flashed in his eyes.
Saint Yohan the man who had come closest to the celestial realm by sealing demon lairs.
And Francia, the Obsidian Maiden, bearer of purification.
Both would meet their deaths in the Western Empire.