The Villain Who Robbed the Heroines - Chapter 226: Ashes

“Even though I had chosen them with utmost care……”

“This much is enough.”

“I-Is that so?”

When one of the nobles who had just looked at him received a clear answer and turned his back, Ferzen put the documents he had been given him aside.

Although he had already gotten permission to form a detached unit, he was not free to choose the number of people he could recruit.

After all, every soldier had a noble who commanded over them.

However, aside from those who had connections and were close friends to the nobles,

They would select those with exceptional skills and send them to his side.

Naturally, those who were given the highest priority in the process were people who were in a relatively hostile position with the family of the nobles in question.

Right next to them, there were those who were born as commoners―to be exact, it was those who passed the gates of the Imperial Family.

After all, there was no way that the nobles, who were resentful of the growing power of the Imperial Family, would hesitate to cut off the buds that would become the arms and legs of the Imperial Family in the future.

That’s right, Prince Raymond had allowed him this opportunity after taking all of those matters into consideration.

Then……

Ferzen stood up from his seat and walked towards the barracks where his unit members were located.

He had ordered them to gather in advance, so all the members of his unit, including Lizzy, had gathered inside the hut and looked at him as he entered.

“I won’t keep you for long.”

“We understand.”

“With the permission of His Highness the Prince, I have formed a detached unit. I am here to select a few people from among you who are under my command.”

Even though only a few people had gathered inside the tent when they heard about the detached unit, a small murmur broke out.

“……”

Lizzy was the only one there who kept her mouth shut. She just smiled faintly as she looked at him with her bruised face.

“May I ask when will the unit depart?”

The role that the detached unit will play and the details of its operation will only be shared with those who were selected in the first place.

Therefore, the troops under Ferzen only asked for the departure time.

“We will be leaving at night after one more battle takes place. If the person that was selected in advance dies in that battle, those who were designated as reserve will take the vacant position.”

“……I understand.”

“Then I will call the names of those who are chosen from now on.”

Although Ferzen was doing this for his selfish happiness.

He never once lost sight of the fact that he was at war.

The picture that was drawn in his head was to kill Lizzy to cut the loose ends completely and then completely block the enemy’s retreat route in order to draw the Elmark Empire into an all-out war.

He hadn’t told a single soul, but two of his unique abilities had not been revealed yet.

So, in a situation where the escape route was blocked and an all-out war broke out, the odds of Ernes Empire winning was not low.

To be exact, Ferzen actually thought the odds of them winning to be quite high.

When the names were called one after another and a total of six people were selected, two from each of the three groups……

“Lizzy.”

Ferzen finally took Lizzy’s name and concluded the selection process.

“This is all. Those who have been called should hear the details from Rimbel.”

“That……! I know it’s rude of me to intrude, but for someone who is only Keter rank to be assigned to the detached unit…… ”

Was it sympathy?

Or maybe a developed affection because of the time they spent together on the battlefield?

When Astel, her captain, raised his hand in protest, Ferzen just shook her head.

“You know, don’t you?”

“……”

“If she is not selected for this operation…… There will be a backlash among other commanders. On top of that……”

Ferzen trailed off, but everyone present was aware of what would be said next.

After all, the place of others that ‘Lizzy’ took,

If she was not alive until the detached unit embarked on,

Another person had to take her place.

And if she succeeded, she would contribute to raising a huge amount of effort. However, on the other hand, the risk was high……

“……”

No one said anything else to Ferzen anymore.

Astel also took one last look at Lizzy, who was sitting quietly, and then turned his head away bitterly.

Of course, Lizzy did not actually participate in place of one other person.

But Ferzen was able to naturally isolate her just by saying those words to make the others interpret it that way, so there was no need for them to refuse.

Anyone who saw it might say that it was a cowardly method, but for a villain, cowardice was actually honesty.

“Rest for now.”

Ferzen, who had been exchanging glances with Lizzy, who was sitting calmly in her wheelchair, for a while now, turned his back away and left the tent.

* * * * *

“……No transaction took place, Your Majesty.”

“Is that so?”

Empress Gremory who was sitting proudly inside the Elmark Empire’s camp narrowed her eyes as she watched the warlock trying to make a deal by opening the gate of the Underworld.

She had rested well during the last two days because of the heavy rain to reorganize and collect herself.

In fact, what she wanted to find out more than anything else was the door of the Underworld that had opened during her battle with Ferzen.

As time passed and she thought about it more, she realized that there were many things that were odd about the situation at that time.

How was the deal between the warlock and the monster carried out?

Except with the monsters that reside on the first floor, the warlock would not be able to induce any monsters to do business with them. The monsters wouldn’t willingly agree as well.

When dealing with monsters that lived on the second floor or higher, the warlock had to first present an offering and then wait for the monster to respond to the offering.

Back at their battle, the time that had passed between Ferzen and her was at the very most 5 seconds.

Even if the gate to the Underworld was able to be opened quickly, it was still ridiculous to think that he could make a deal with a monster living on the third floor within those 5 seconds.

No, rather than thinking about it, it just didn’t make sense at all.

Maybe there was a way in which that kind of result could be achieved?

For example, make the deal in advance and add a condition to make the monster appear when his life is in danger.

“……”

However, when she gathered Euclid-level warlocks under her command and tested her hypothesis, all of them were unable to make a deal.

Maybe in order to have a change in the dealing process, the warlock needed to become an Apollyon-level warlock first?

“It’s really complicated.”

Whether to believe in her hypothesis or not was a very difficult issue.

If her hypothesis was proven to be correct, it would be wise not to threaten Ferzen’s life more than necessary.

Yes, it was possible to win the war with that alone.

After all, according to that hypothesis, Ferzen had already made a deal with the Underworld. On top of that, the condition for the monster with whom he had made the deal with was to appear was when his life was threatened.

The amount of goods that were consumed by an Apollyon-level warlock when making a deal with the Underworld was beyond anyone’s imagination.

And if some of the goods they owned were used in that way, there would not be much left that could be used for future use.

In particular, due to the nature of the goods that a warlock consumed when trading with the Underworld, it was difficult to replenish them in a short period of time.

“Hmm.”

If that’s really the case, there should definitely be a set period of time for the conditions to remain active.

Let’s wait a little longer.

They suffered nothing by taking their time.

No, to be exact, it would be a waste of the national treasury.

However, isn’t that the same for the other side?

If things went well……

The war would end with just her giving up one more leg.

Gremory gently curled her hair and held it. No matter how bad it gets, it would stop at a point where she gave up both of her legs and got prosthetic legs.

Of course, that situation would only come true if her hypothesis was correct.

The Ernes Empire would also be able to replenish their goods if the truce lasted for too long. So they would not be willing to take the initiative.

After taking a little more time and watching their reaction, it would not be too late to take action once the other side showed that they were in a hurry.

Just like any other war, the national treasury of the nation that was at war would be empty.

However, isn’t it fine as long as they win and replenish it with the goods from the other side?

After thinking about that, Gremory laid back comfortably and looked at her vassals around her and gave one particular man a look.

“Marquis Rupold.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It seems like you are the one with the most merit so far.”

“I will not know what to do if I am not under your rule, Your Majesty.”

“If you keep doing well, you will be the man who gave birth to the heir.”

“How could I……”

“Leaving aside the unnecessary pretense, I have one question.’

“Please ask freely, Your Majesty.”

“Would you be able to carry the burden even if you had only one arm left?”

“What are you saying… Your Majesty?”

“You will be fighting an Apollyon-level warlock. So, do you think the price you need to pay will end with just one arm?”

“If it’s for the future of the Empire, please do not worry.”

“That’s a boring answer.”

Gremory chuckled as she rested her chin on her remaining arm.

After all, she had seen what he did to the Princesses of the Obern Kingdom when she gave them away.

Did he think people would believe him if he answered like that after what he’d done?

Even though he would still approach the bed while naked, she was sure that he would just stand stiffly like the thing that was hanging between his legs after seeing that she had no legs and could not even move.

When she imagined such scenes, she could not help but feel quite disgusted……

Contrary to the disgust she felt, she would fully accept it once she won this war.

After all, after that, there were no more mountains left for her to climb.

So, bringing herself down would definitely be a fun form of entertainment.

***

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