My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 103

§ 103. The Unveiled Truth (2)

The notification window popped up, indicating that the story-linked quest was cleared.

Following that, a new notification window appeared on Mobile Lord’s screen again.

《Long ago, Kyle issued an unknown order to the Black Lion Knights who followed him.》

《The Black Lion Knights were puzzled but eventually obeyed Kyle’s command.》

《However, Muriel stood in the way of those Black Lion Knights and eventually subdued them, imprisoning them in this underground area.》

《Thus, the existence of the Black Lion Knights was forgotten.》

《In the deep, untouched ruins where no one searches.》
.
.
“······?”

Ian tilted his head, puzzled.

Because that was the end.

There was no further explanation.

So, the truth Muriel hid in the ruins was this?

More than anything, what truth did Kyle ultimately face?

And.

“Then, what about the plague?”

The existence of the plague wasn’t explained either.

The plague that broke out in Muriel’s ruins.

To be precise, something of unknown origin rooted in mana (魔) [a magical energy or life force], though it appeared like a plague.

-We… we don’t know either.

Kendrick replied to Ian, who muttered to himself.

-It suddenly started breaking out recently.

Well… that would make sense.

If it had broken out before, the entire southern region would have been infected by now.

But it had been quiet for the past thousand years, and suddenly it broke out recently?

And.

“It didn’t break out from you guys?”

Ian had actually suspected it had originated from the Death Knights.

-No. We don’t know anything about that either.

But it seemed they didn’t know either.

And the plague did not affect the Death Knights.

They were already undead.

They were beings tainted by mana (魔).

The plague couldn’t affect them.

Above all, weren’t they the knights who followed Kyle?

They were more skilled in mana (魔) than Ian, though not by much.

‘Hmm….’

Ian paused for a moment and then asked,

“Then what is the source of the plague? I heard it’s in these ruins.”

Kendrick nodded and said.

-It’s not here, but in another place. Where Saintess Muriel sleeps. This place is actually an unknown space.

To be precise, it was a space only Muriel knew.

So, when Ian came here.

Kendrick and the Death Knights suspected him of being from the Holy See [the central governing body of a major religion].

Because it was a space that could not be known unless related to Muriel.

But.

“When I came, there was an obvious entrance?”

To be precise, there was no other visible entrance besides this place.

Kendrick was slightly puzzled by this but soon spoke again.

-It seems that… the form of the ruins has been altered as the plague took hold.

And Kendrick continued with a question.

-But it is a bit strange that the lord did not notice that energy. Didn’t you see it when you came in?

“I didn’t see it.”

Ian shook his head firmly.

He had never seen another entrance.

He only thought that the energy of the plague had become stronger.

He didn’t feel or see anything that could be called the source of the plague!

“Hmm….”

Ian paused for a moment, lost in thought.

But his head only became more complicated, and no other ideas came to mind.

Anyway.

“Can you guide me to where it is?”

He had to go directly to where Muriel was sleeping.

First, he had to eliminate the source of the plague.

Also, the reward for the story-linked quest he had just cleared.

Kyle’s legacy and Muriel’s legacy.

Judging from Kendrick’s silence, it seemed the rewards were there as well.

But.

-I can tell you the location, but it will be difficult to guide you.

Kendrick shook his head slightly and continued.

-We want to follow the lord, but we… cannot leave this place.

It seemed they were trapped here and unable to leave.

If they could leave, they would have left the ruins long ago.

And wouldn’t they have turned the Holy See upside down?

Death Knights, all masters.

It was called the Master Knights, but it was virtually the strongest knights on the continent.

So, it seemed Muriel had buried them firmly.

If they went out into the world, a terrible situation would occur.

And it was the power of Arnaise Muriel, so what more could be said?

Even after a thousand years, it was still the same.

In fact, they could be seen as earthbound spirits stuck in these ruins.

But.

‘There might be a way to get them out….’

For some reason, Ian felt there might be a way to free them.

To be precise, he wanted to get them out.

Think about it.

A knight order made up entirely of masters.

Even Kendrick was a skilled fighter who wouldn’t easily be pushed back even against Durak.

He would eventually lose if they fought to the death, but where else could you find such strength?

Moreover, they followed Ian as their lord, so Ian could control them.

It was truly a heavenly army.

Truly an enormous force.

Elan Dur’s White Wolf Knights?

They would barely be able to cope if they swarmed in groups.

So, it would be a great help if they could be placed in Ruben like Leah.

But he couldn’t do anything right now.

However, Kyle’s legacy and Muriel’s legacy.

If he obtained these two rewards, there might be a way.

In many ways, he had to go to where Muriel was sleeping.

Ian heard the location from Kendrick.

“Then I’ll be right back.”

He immediately moved.

#

Ian quickly exited the ruins.

Then he headed straight to the place Kendrick had told him.

It was a bit far from the entrance Ian had used.

It was hidden by dense bushes and thick plague.

And there was a reason why Ian hadn’t found it.

“It looks like someone touched it.”

There were traces that someone had intentionally hidden it.

Kendrick speculated that the form had been altered as the plague took hold.

Of course, that was a factor, but there were also signs of deliberate concealment.

Ian uncovered the hidden entrance to the ruins.

And boldly stepped inside.

He had survived even after meeting the Death Knight Knights composed of masters.

What was there to fear?

Ian fearlessly examined the inside of the ruins.

This place felt saturated with the energy of the plague and even a hint of malice (惡意) [ill will; intention to do evil].

“This is where Muriel is sleeping?”

He couldn’t believe it.

It would be more believable if the seven demon lords were sleeping here instead of Muriel.

Ian continued to move.

It was a structure he had never seen before, a place he had never been before.

However, Ian didn’t get lost.

Because the energy of the plague was clearly felt inside the ruins.

At the same time, he felt a strange sensation.

Because the energy of the plague was not that strong.

Of course, the energy was getting stronger.

But he didn’t feel like he was getting closer to the source.

Like remnants left by the source?

He felt like he was approaching that.

And that feeling was correct.

He had reached the area of the source.

“······ It’s not here?”

It wasn’t there.

To be precise, it was not visible.

There was nothing visible that could be called the source of the plague.

However, there were traces suggesting that the source of the plague had been located here.

A bizarrely distorted egg-like shape.

It seemed to have conceived something, but it was broken and shattered.

And a terrible plague energy was spreading out from within.

Also, a chilling malice (惡意) was leaking out.

Stop.

Ian’s body suddenly froze.

The malice (惡意) emanating from those traces.

That was… a malice (惡意) that Ian had encountered once before.

The seven demon lords who attacked Ruben in the past, the slothful Nurvia.

The malice (惡意) felt from Nurvia.

It was very similar to that.

Of course, it was merely a remnant.

However, the clear malice (惡意) felt even from facing the remnant was distinct.

“Why in Muriel’s tomb…?”

His head swam with confusion.

Because it was a power that should never be in the tomb of Muriel, who was called a saintess.

And even the artificial traces that hid the entrance to the ruins.

In an instant, Ian’s expression hardened.

Because one fact suddenly came to mind.

Kyle, a thousand years ago.

He went to the Black Lion Knights, including Kendrick.

And said, ‘Kill the people of the Holy See.’

Kyle did not explain much about the reason.

He just said this.

‘One thing I can tell you is that the forces of the Holy See are related to demons.’

The forces of the Holy See are related to demons.

This could mean that some within the Holy See are demons.

But it didn’t necessarily have to be demons to be related to demons.

“They were worshiping demons…?”

It could also be interpreted this way.

They were not demons, but they could be following demons.

And Ian judged that Rachel was not a demon.

Nevertheless, the sense of incongruity felt from Rachel.

What if Rachel was not a demon but a demon worshiper?

And the remnants of this malice (惡意) in front of him now.

It’s not certain.

But if this is true, one clear truth emerges.

“Damn it.”

Aria is in danger now.

#

Aria watched Laura running towards her breathlessly.

Even from a distance, Laura’s expression looked quite urgent.

It seemed like something serious had happened.

Laura quickly reached Aria.

“What’s wrong?”

Aria asked, but Laura couldn’t answer easily.

Laura swallowed her panting breath several times and finally managed to shout,

“P, plague has broken out again in the village!”

“What!?”

Aria’s eyes widened.

“What are you talking about? The plague has broken out again in the village?”

This had never happened before.

The plague had never recurred.

Aria had been wandering around the south, removing the seeds of the plague.

Aria had been treating people alongside Ian.

She had literally visited every region of the south and treated the plague.

But she had never heard that the plague had recurred.

“It was not long after the saintess left. Suddenly, villagers began to fall one by one….”

Laura didn’t seem to understand what had happened either.

Aria took a step forward.

She needed to see it with her own eyes.

Aria entered the village.

Aria could feel the energy of death lingering in the village.

The energy of the plague was stronger than anywhere else.

It was like… the energy of the plague was close to the source.

“What is this….”

And in a vacant lot on one side of the village.

All the people were gathered.

And the plague was clearly spreading on their faces.

A grotesque appearance that was rotting and festering.

It was the seed of the plague that Ian had removed.

Now the seed was taking root again.

No, beyond taking root, the plague that had finished sprouting was rampant throughout their bodies.

Aria was stunned, as if she had been struck by a hammer.

And it wasn’t just because the plague had recurred.

It was shocking enough that the plague had recurred.

But what was truly disturbing Aria was something else.

The villagers infected with the plague.

“Aaaaaah…!”

“God, our God…!”

The people were gathered together and shouting something.

And the eerie madness emanating from them.

Terrible malice (惡意).

It’s the same.

It was the same as that time.

That was when Aria became convinced that Rachel was a demon.

Two eyes bloodshot.

The fanaticism that was endlessly shouting like fanatics.

The situation was so similar to that time.

There were two differences from that time.

They were infected with the plague.

“Step back.”

And now there were the Holy Knights.

The leader of the Holy Knights, Garrett, stood in front of Aria.

Then, numerous Holy Knights lined up in a row.

The Holy Knights were all drawing their swords.

“It’s a wicked heretic.”

And the tip of the sword was pointed at the villagers.

“No!”

Aria shouted.

No.

There was no way they were heretics.

In the first place, she didn’t even know what the criteria for heresy were.

Even if malice (惡意) was felt now.

They were not demons.

If they were, there was no way Aria wouldn’t have known in the first place.

Above all, there was no way Ian wouldn’t have noticed while treating them.

Something was wrong.

Something was wrong.

“Step aside.”

But Garrett didn’t listen to Aria.

It was true that malice (惡意) was felt from them.

Right then.

“S, Saintess…?”

Suddenly, Laura’s voice was heard.

She looked over there.

There, Laura was making a flustered expression.

And bumps began to appear on Laura’s face.

It spread rapidly and spread throughout Laura’s body.

It was a plague.

Truly an enormous rate of infection.

Of course, it wasn’t infected now.

Laura was infected while in Gestak Village.

In the meantime, Laura’s divine power suppressed it.

In the end, the seed succumbed to that power and sprouted.

The energy of the plague felt in Gestak Village now was on a different level.

It was like the source of the plague was scattering.

Even Laura, a priestess of divinity, could not avoid infection.

“Hukh…!”

Laura’s eyes turned red.

The same madness as the villagers is felt in the meantime.

Clang!

Garrett’s sword headed towards Laura like lightning.

“Step aside. It’s a wicked heretic.”

At the same time, Garrett’s sword flew towards Laura’s neck.