NOVPUBFacing the butler's question, Count Bernaken couldn't help but rub his brow.
For the Old Earl, he could draw his sword and battle ten great beasts head-on, but he was utterly clueless about how to persuade an abnormal noble.
Especially when that abnormality had long been branded into the Bloodline, it was even more headache-inducing.
He really wanted to go home and play Gwent!
Why did he still have to go out and busy himself even though he was retired?
That guy had been gone for so long, why did he still have to show up?
Couldn't he just stay hidden and wait until after his Death to come out again?
After all, by then, he wouldn't have to worry anymore!
As a servant and apprentice to the Old Earl, who had been with him for nearly thirty years, Lynn could tell at a glance what his master was thinking.
Right away, the butler Lynn spoke up—
"My lord, you are a Demon Hunter!"
"Retired."
"My lord, you are the last Master Demon Hunter in South County!"
"Retired."
"My lord, would you really be content to be ridiculed by the folks from North County?"
"Retired."
"My lord, are you going to forget the traditions of a Demon Hunter?"
"Retired."
Facing his apprentice and servant's questions, the Old Earl spread his hands and gave the same emphatically certain answer, again and again.
He was retired, wasn't he?
Why did he still have to do these things?
If he didn't follow tradition, would he have visited Windsor?
"Sigh!"
He sighed and leaned back in his seat, looking up at the carriage ceiling.
The wooden ceiling, polished smooth by the years, was not shiny—in a miscellaneous record, he had read that during the Empire Era, some Nobles would spend tremendous effort sculpting wood to make it as beautiful as jade, and in his youth, he had chosen a pair of walnuts to try this technique.
Unfortunately...
Just as he was about to achieve a great success, it was smashed by an ogre.
Even though he later skinned the ogre to use as a footpad, it was no consolation.
After that, he became disheartened.
But not unhappy.
After all, his Gwent skills were quite superb.
And...
The ladies at the club were all very generous.
Even if he couldn't show his true identity, his alias 'Old Bob' was quite famous in Port Pult.
'I'll have to break tonight's appointment; I hope Lisa won't be angry.
She had even invested in a shop for me before, which I lost gambling; if she finds out about that... She'll really be angry, won't she?'
The Old Earl pondered over the troubles faced by his other identity.
"Ahem, Master, please be more serious."
Lynn coughed lightly and changed his form of address.
This change made Count Bernaken have to take things seriously.
The Old Earl thought for a few seconds.
Then he said—
"Lynn, you will be the only Master Demon Hunter in South County from now on. You must..."
"Master, there's a limit to joking around!
As one of the Demon Hunters, I am well aware of my own strength!
I'm not capable, nor can I assume the role of a master at this time!"
Lynn's expression became even more stern.
Count Bernaken immediately raised both hands in a gesture of surrender.
"Alright, alright," the Old Earl repeated.
And deep down, he thought about simply letting 'Count Bernaken' die, since compared to Bernaken, his alias 'Old Bob' lived a much freer life.
It was settled!
After sorting out this affair, he would let 'Count Bernaken die' and then start a new life with Lisa, using the identity of Old Bob.
With a real decision made, the Old Earl sat up straight.
"Have they burned Pier's Body?"
"Yes! Before burning, I had already covered his entire body with Holy Salt.
The Silver Sword was also thrust back into his Body, until the very end of the burning."
Seeing that the Old Earl was finally taking things seriously, Lynn breathed a sigh of relief.
However, when it came to Pier, a trace of sorrow still surfaced in the butler's eyes.
Pier was his carefully selected candidate.
Today's delivery was also a test.
If passed, Pier would have become his seventeenth apprentice.
Unfortunately...
Lynn took a deep breath, casting aside the melancholy.
"May Pier rest in peace,"
After offering these words of comfort, The Old Earl began applying sword oil to his twin longswords.
The steel sword and the Silver Sword, both gradually absorbed the sword oil.
Sitting opposite, Lynn did the same.
Moreover, the butler was silently preparing more 'Curse Marks.'
Compared to The Old Earl, who was a master, if he didn't prepare in advance, he would find himself in the troublesome situation of cooling down during battle.
Such technique had also been taught to him by The Old Earl.
Likewise, it was precisely because of The Old Earl being called a master.
For The Old Earl had changed the original combat style of demon hunters.
'Curse Marks' had evolved from a supplementary measure to an indispensable skill on the front lines of battle.
"Milord, we've arrived!"
Said the coachman, bringing the carriage to a halt.
Equally, this coachman was also one of Lynn's apprentices.
Therefore, once the carriage stopped, the coachman vigilantly scanned the surroundings.
Even though the sun had not yet set, the mansion was already shrouded in thick fog, making it appear as if it were deep into the night.
Especially so as something inexplicable was stirring his "Spirituality."
It caused his entire body to go weak, and even his temples throbbed in pain.
"Relax!
You return to the previous crossroads!
Wait for our message!"
The Old Earl patted the coachman's shoulder, instructing him.
As a disciple, the coachman did not refuse or offer any rebuttal.
He was well aware that his staying would only be a hindrance.
The carriage rolled away into the distance.
Only then did The Old Earl step forward to knock on the door—
Thud, thud thud!
"Windsor? Windsor?
Your Old Friend is here for a visit!" 𝖓𝔬𝖛𝔭𝔲𝖇.𝔠𝔬𝖒
The Old Earl called out loudly.
Then, the towering iron gate swung directly open—
Squeak!
The grating sound of the gate's hinges indicated that the door was not frequently used.
The bats flying out from the inside were enough to scare off many faint-hearted people.
Let alone the sudden onset of fog.
It was no longer a matter of "Spiritual" vision.
It was the actual reality, as dense fog surged from the depths of the mansion like a tide, Shielding the sky.
The sunset glow of the evening vanished instantly.
Leaving behind darkness and…
A streak of bright red.
A figure clad in a vibrant red dress appeared with the fog from the depths of the mansion, materializing instantly at the doorway, seated in front of a vanity, gently brushing her hair.
The hair grew longer as she brushed.
And as it grew longer, she kept brushing more.
In a breath's time, it piled up and started to creep towards the feet of The Old Earl and Lynn.
Without any apparent alarm, both simultaneously stepped back.
But the next moment, Lynn's expression subtly changed.
The butler vanished from the spot.
The Old Earl, his face a picture of resignation, didn't bother to glance at the figure brushing her hair and also disappeared into thin air.
However, the instant The Old Earl vanished, several more figures appeared.
Leading them, with Twin Swords at his waist and a cloak displaying the emblem of the red Twin Swords fluttering with each step.
Gazing at the bizarre scene before him, the figure drew his sword—
Clang!
