The Hero Party Couldn’t Kill Me

Chapter 3: Trap (4)

Three years ago, when the warrior party was formed, Iris Rossier was selected because of Duke Rossier’s influence.

And the reason Duke Rossier pushed Iris was for one reason.

‘It is said that an alien is joining this warrior party. You have that alien’s child. If you do, I will hand over the position of the next head of the family to you.’

An outsider powerful enough to fight even against the hero and the demon king. It was to ensure that the alien’s superior blood flowed into the Rosie family as well.

But Iris couldn’t complete the mission.

It was mainly for two reasons.

First, Edmund, a foreigner, was too faithful to his mission to defeat the demon king. So, he kept rejecting Iris’ proposal to have s*x.

He said he couldn’t do such a thing with peace of mind on a battlefield where he didn’t know when he might be ambushed.

And the second, more crucial reason. It was because of the revelation of the goddess that the saintess had spoken about.

‘Edmund was abandoned by the Goddess. Does he want to be excommunicated like Edmund?’

When the saintess first planned to kill Edmund, Iris tried to refuse.

However, with Calia and her saintess already holding hands, she had no choice but to refuse.

‘It went rather well. The goddess saved you, Iris.’

‘But… What am I supposed to say to my father?’

‘I will excommunicate Edmund. Then you will understand. He probably doesn’t want to stain his family with the blood of someone the goddess abandoned.’

The saintess also told Rossier how to persuade the duke instead, but she didn’t even get her seed to the duke Rossier.

In effect, the last chance to become the next head of the Rossier family was gone.

“I’m sorry. But i can’t understand Why is Duke Rossier having such a stupid idea….”

After hearing her story, the saintess comforted Iris. But still, Iris’ eyes were dazzled.

“So how are you going to take responsibility now? I’ve been rolling around like a dog for the past 20 years, dreaming of becoming the next head of the Rossier family. It really came right in front of my nose.”

The saintess looked at Iris and was lost in her thoughts.

From her point of view, Duke Rossier was quite an annoyance.

The subject with the most wealth in the empire hadn’t paid a single penny for the construction of the Great Sanctuary.

Therefore, the saintess’ conclusion was that she had to somehow awaken Iris and, in her role, bring down the Duke of Rossier.

So the saintess put her divine power in her own voice and spoke.

“Well, speaking of my impressions, it seems that Duke Rossier had no intention of entrusting you with the position of head of the family from the beginning.”

“What?”

“Think about it. If Duke Rossier had really recognized you as the next head of the family, he wouldn’t have put such ridiculous conditions on you.”

“… ….”

“If you really had Edmund’s child, Duke Rossier would have said that he was not worthy to be the next head of the family because of his excommunication.”

At the saintess’s words, Iris gritted her teeth.

She actually already knew. In the meantime, Duke Rossier had always brought up her flaws and criticized her for not being suitable for the position of the next head of the family.

‘That’s why you can’t become the next family head. Don’t you just look at short-term profits and stick here and there? Like a baby bat.’

‘… I worked like a dog and ended up becoming a dog. The head of the Rossier family must never become a dog.’

Nevertheless, Duke Rossier had left a glimmer of hope by persuading him that if he completed this mission well, he could be given the position of the next head of the family.

I lived on that hope, but it was all a lie?

The saintess was relieved when Iris’ eyes returned to life. Now that she has regained her will to live, her words will speak.

“It must be very confusing. I understand. So right now, gather your mind and organize your thoughts.

But keep this in mind. That you are too precious to remain in the shadow of Duke Rossier.”

“… I’ll keep that in mind.”

Iris looks at her saintess with eyes as if she has welcomed her goddess. The image of her rebelling against her saintess just a moment ago had disappeared.

Seeing that figure, the saintess smiled.

“And… Can I ask you one small favor?”

“Tell me anything.”

“As you know, Edmund’s location is now known. So tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, Calia is going to kill Edmund.”

“Do you need my help?”

“Can you give me the poison you used on Edmund? No, I’ll ask for a stronger poison than that time.”

The real reason why Iris is valuable. Before she was an excellent archer, she was an assassin. And she was especially good at handling poison. Maybe as much as the wizards of the Mage Tower.

Of course, her poison failed to kill Edmund last time, but the saintess still believed that Iris’s poison would be of great help when killing him.

“Right now, it is difficult to make a poison stronger than that. Instead, the poison I used on Edmund remains. Would you like to take this?”

“Yes, that would be fine too.”

Iris staggered towards her workshop. After a while, she brought the poison in the round potion and handed it to the saintess.

“Thank you. This will increase the success rate of this operation.”

“Ah, saintess. I have a question.”

“Yes, please.”

“… Can you really get forgiveness for your sins if you pay the cost of building the Great Sanctuary?”

A saintess who had an ominous thought for a moment. But she had already declared that she was in church, so she couldn’t speak out against her.

“Sure.”

“Thank you.”

Iris smiles with a meaningful smile.

That mad smile bothered me for nothing, but the saintess tried to ignore it and went back.

***

“… Is that Speth in the distance over there?”

The next day. The group of Marquis Grenouille arrived near Speth using teleportation magic.

“I don’t feel very good.”

Marquis Grenouille muttered as he watched the outskirts of Speth through binoculars.

The people of Speth weren’t afraid. They know what happens if you treat the nobles and wizards of the empire carelessly.

But Edmund… It’s a different story. No matter how injured he was now, Marquis Grenouille was also afraid because he had seen Edmund’s skills from the sidelines.

“Don’t worry too much. Didn’t I give the Marquis a teleportation scroll just in case? While I buy time, the Marquis can activate the scroll and run away.”

“And can you withstand Edmund’s attack long enough?”

“Looking at this, I am also a wizard. You will not be easily defeated.”

Godfrey said, generating sparks from his hands. He wasn’t trustworthy, but he was said to be a fairly talented prospect in Rogue Magic Tower, so he had no choice but to trust him.

“Then I will start exploring.”

It also bothers Rachel to search away from them. If she did well, she could find Edmund faster, but on the other hand, Marquis Grenouille didn’t like her because the power was dispersed.

However, since that Calia would also join in case of emergency, Marquis Grenouille took his heart and headed for Speth.

“Stop it. Who are you and why are you here?”

“I am Marquis Grenouille, Lord of Grenouville. He came because he wanted to speak with the leader of this city.”

“… Come in.”

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After a brief communication, the gatekeeper let Marquis Grenouille and Godfrey into the city. Soon the gatekeeper led them to the place where Swann was staying.

“What about Rachel?”

“Surveillance has weakened as nerves are focused on us. Don’t worry too much.”

Godfrey said. As they said, a blue bird appeared above them.

The Marquis Grenouille was a little relieved and followed the gatekeeper into the hut in the center of the city.

There, Swann was sitting in a chair waiting for them. On either side of her were Leon and Raphaella, respectively.

‘As expected, you’ve been here for four years.’

Godfrey frowned upon checking Rafaela. However, Rafaela hid her expression as much as possible and only looked at Marquis Grenouille.

“… Are you not going to say hello?”

“Grenouville, where this body rules, is superior to this city, so why should I greet you first? Rather, this body needs to be greeted.”

“You people in the Empire are rude. Yes, so why are you here? You must have said last time that you had no intention of interacting.”

“I came because Edmund, who was excommunicated from our empire, fled to the White Forest. Do you know where he is?”

“He is not here.”

Swan speaks firmly.

“If you’ll excuse me, can I use the Orb of Truth?”

Then Godfrey asked this time.

“Why do you ask when you know it’s rude?”

“Because I am suspicious. All circumstances already point to Edmund being here.”

Hearing that, Leon tried to look away. But Swann snorted and said.

“You guys have already come to a conclusion and come here. I don’t want to talk more with someone I can’t communicate with. Go away.”

“You are misunderstanding something. We’re here to warn you today. If Edmund is not obediently released, there will be war.”

“… How dare you say where we are right now!!!”

Leon gets angry at this and draws out his sword. But Godfrey set his sword on fire.

“Quaaa!!”

Leon screamed and dropped his sword. Swann is furious with that look.

“What are you doing now?”

“I just warned you because I haven’t figured out your subject yet. The empire is already overflowing with justification for invading this place. Because you serve a different goddess from us, and you accepted the wizard we banished.”

“… ….”

At the words of Marquis Grenouille, Raphaella slightly bowed her head.

“You even treated our delegation badly last time. However, the generous prince and princess gave them a chance to coexist. So take your pick. Will you die with Edmund, the high treason, or hand him over and keep the peace?”

“… ….”

“If you don’t like that, at least let us search for Edmund here. Then you will be able to avoid war.”

Of course, Calia intended to occupy this place somehow, so Marquis Grenouille’s suggestion was a lie.

It’s just a ploy to prevent the Speth soldiers from intervening while killing Edmund.

Swan seriously thought about this.

“Can I really believe that?”

Then Rafaela, who had been quiet, opened her mouth.

“What?”

“If you’ll excuse me, can I use the Orb of Truth?”

Raphaella returns her words exactly what Godfrey had said to her earlier.

“This year is now… ….”

Godfrey, angry at her head, immediately created a fireball and tried to attack Rafaela.

But at that moment.

Paaah.

A teleportation magic circle was created in front of them.

– Rachel. What happened? Why is Calia-sama already….

Thinking it must be Calia, Godfrey sent a telepathic message to Rachel, but he couldn’t finish her words when he saw the girl who appeared after passing through a group of lights.

“No….”

Wow.

Godfrey, who was properly hit by the handle of the sword, collapsed without being able to resist.

At this, Marquis Grenouille pulled out a teleportation scroll.

Suddenly.

“aaa!!!”

But with the enemy’s next blow, the teleportation scroll flew away along with his wrist.

Marquis Grenouille crouched down and looked up at the opponent who attacked him.

“Long time no see, Marquis Grenouille.”

Edmund greeted him with a sword pointed at his throat.