Chapter 5
“How will you do that?”
The Count asked with a ridiculous expression.
“I’ll earn it in the North.”
“What? Pahahaha!”
The Count, who had been tense for a moment, burst out laughing as soon as he heard the word North.
“I thought you at least knew the basics of the world, but it seems you don’t know a thing!”
“……”
“There is only one place in the Empire where no taxes are collected. Do you know where that is?”
“The North.”
“Correct. And do you know why?”
“Because it was a battlefield against demons and monsters. I heard the land was ruined after years of war.”
“And you still want to go there? Even His Majesty the Emperor has given up on that land—it’s barren and poor. It will only get worse. What kind of money can you possibly earn there?”
The Count’s words made sense.
But Kyria knew the North’s hidden value.
‘The Duke of Monsters’ territory is an untapped treasure mine.’
It was a setting she had forgotten until now, only recalled because of a shocking dream.
So the reasons to go North were more than enough.
For research to cure her brother’s disease.
And to repay her debts.
Of course, explaining all that to the Count wouldn’t work.
So instead…
“…The Cloverfield family values trust above all, right?”
It was a sudden question, but the Count nodded.
“Yes. Our trading house became a noble family because of trust. It’s the foundation of everything.”
“Then please give me one last chance to prove my trust.”
“……”
The Count was taken aback by her unusually serious face.
This daughter, not of his blood, seemed careless and eccentric most of the time.
But sometimes, like now, she would turn sharp and intellectual.
Especially when it came to her research.
‘Is she hiding something…?’
Normally her odd way of showing her forehead made him uneasy, but right now, he couldn’t shake the feeling she was concealing something more.
And the words “last chance” weighed on him.
“Hmm…”
The Count closed his eyes in thought.
Minutes passed before he finally spoke.
“You said one year?”
“Yes.”
“Fine. Prove yourself within a year. If you fail, then as head of the family and your father, I’ll use my right to decide your marriage.”
“Hooray!”
Kyria shouted with joy and threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his thick neck.
The stunned Count froze stiff, even his hands stuck in the air.
But Kyria, overjoyed, didn’t notice.
Letting go, she smiled brightly.
“Thank you! You won’t regret this!”
It was decided—Kyria would leave for the North the next morning.
And at that moment, someone’s fate, deep in the North, also began to change.
* * *
Late at night.
The Duke’s castle in the North was quiet—eerily quiet.
Not because everyone was asleep.
But because both humans and non-humans alike were holding their breath.
From behind the thick doors came the sound of pained groans.
“Ghhk… Ugh…”
No matter how hard he clenched his teeth, the agony could not be suppressed.
Every time the Duke received treatment, he suffered like this.
In front of the door, two of his retainers stood guard.
One was human, the other a demon.
“…If only I could take my lord’s pain away.”
Lohannen sighed, pushing up his glasses.
He wore a white priest’s cape and carried the Church’s holy book in his arm.
It was his duty to treat the Duke at regular intervals.
Of course, it wasn’t really treatment—only pouring divine power into him.
But without even that, the Duke’s condition would collapse entirely.
“Your so-called treatment only makes the King weaker.”
A boy in his late teens leaned against the wall, smirking.
He was far from human in appearance—dark skin, sharp horns like a hound’s ears, and a long tail.
He was Gaul, a warrior of the Hellhound tribe, demons famous for their loyalty to their master.
He glared at the priest with crimson demon eyes.
“If you really cared for him, you’d stop pouring that filthy divine power into him! Every time you do, the King suffers!”
“Filthy? Divine power brings blessing, not pain.”
Lohannen’s hand gripped the holy book tighter.
Gaul’s tail bristled.
This priest looked frail, but his holy power was strong enough to radiate from the book itself.
But Gaul also knew—if Lohannen unleashed holy power, he’d counter with powerful demonic energy.
So, Lohannen eased his grip.
“…Haa. Unless you can directly ease our lord’s pain, then stay out of my way. We’ve already posted a recruitment for an apothecary. Don’t cause trouble.”
“An apothecary? You mean those frauds who claim grass and herbs are medicine? All humans are liars.”
“…Coming from a demon, that’s rich. Are you saying even our lord is a fraud?”
“No. The King is different. He’s strong and glorious! Just look into his eyes, you’d know!”
“Yes, I’ve seen. I’ve also seen that filthy power tormenting him.”
“What did you say?”
Dark magic swirled into Gaul’s palm.
Lohannen opened the holy book, light radiating.
But neither struck.
Both knew the risk.
If Gaul lost his temper, the ancient castle would collapse.
If Lohannen pushed too far, the monsters inside would retaliate.
And so, the two sides—humans and demons—remained in a fragile balance.
So they argued instead.
“You bespectacled weakling! Worthless twig!”
“Haa… try to keep some dignity while serving our lord. You’re hardly worth responding to.”
Just then—
Bang!
The heavy door between them boomed like thunder.
Both instantly shut up.
That single sound carried one clear message:
Shut up, and leave.
“……”
Both retreated quickly before the Duke’s wrath came down on them.
As they walked apart, Lohannen muttered softly:
“…Anyway, as his priest and aide, I’ll do my duty. Don’t interfere.”
“I’d never do anything to harm the King.”
“Good.”
At a crossroads, Lohannen added:
“Then we don’t meddle in each other’s work. Agreed?”
“Just don’t nag me, priest.”
Lohannen frowned anxiously, while Gaul grinned smugly.
Then they both turned away.
We need an apothecary to ease my lord’s suffering!
Lohannen clenched his holy book.
We need a human to become the King’s nourishment!
Gaul’s tail flicked proudly.
Two very different dreams, for the same master.
This was one month before Kyria arrived in the North.
* * *
“Is this really a Fire Orb?”
“Of course.”
“Wow… I thought magic items like this only existed in big cities.”
Kyria admired the glowing red orbs on display.
The merchant smiled proudly, but with a hint of weariness.
“Well, that’s because this town is closest to the Monster Duke’s territory. See that dark forest across the plains?”
He pointed to a forest so black it looked gloomy even at midday.
“That’s the Black Forest, surrounding the Duke’s castle. Monsters appear if you get too close. That’s why everyone carries Fire Orbs for protection.”
“Aah…”
Kyria’s face paled.
A few days ago, she had set out from home with guards arranged by the Count.
But once she reached the North, she sent them all back.
Otherwise, every report of hers would reach the Count.
‘If he knew I was heading to the Monster Duke, he’d drag me back immediately.’
The Count only knew the Duke as a ruined pauper in a ruined land.
‘If I’d known it’d be like this, I should’ve kept a few guards longer…’
She regretted it, but she had made it here on her own.
Today, she planned to finally enter the Duke’s castle deep within that forest.
“So, miss, are you a traveler?”
“Well, I guess you could say that.”
She pointed at her tired face.
This was the look of a homebody, forced onto the road and drained of energy.
“You’ve had trouble with monsters, I see.”
“Yes. A few times on the shared carriage.”
“Then you were lucky.”
“Lucky? That?”
“You’re not injured.”
“…True.”
At first, with guards, she hadn’t even seen monsters.
But once she entered the North alone, they attacked her carriage again and again.
The closer she came to the Duke’s castle, the more monsters appeared.
In the last town, people treated flying monsters in the sky as casually as sparrows.
‘Strange…’
She thought the closer she got, the more dangerous and chaotic it would be.
But here, near the Duke’s land, it was actually calmer.
Almost as if someone had ordered the monsters to behave.
“Anyway… Are there really that many monsters in the forest? Doesn’t the Duke hunt them?”
“How could he? His body has already turned into a monster.”
The Duke of Monsters.
The half-human, half-monster man who ruled the North.
He wasn’t always that way.
Even nobles knew his story.
“He used to be the Captain of the Holy Knights, and the Empire’s strongest Swordmaster. He was the hero who ended the Human–Demon War.”
The merchant trailed off, his face complicated.
The Human–Demon War had nearly destroyed the Empire.
But the despair ended thanks to the strongest knight in history.
With his holy sword, he sealed the Demon Gate where monsters and demons poured out.
That was two years ago.
But even the strongest man had to pay a price.
Right after sealing the gate, parts of his body began turning into a monster.
