Chapter 395 – Inside the Fortress

I looked up at the clear sky and let out a deep sigh. The swirling anger that had been churning deep in my gut finally began to settle.

And… with August’s destruction, it seemed Kahar’s forces had completely given up, as they were surrendering one after another, discarding their weapons. King Farid’s initial call was finally taking effect here.

There were still several things to be done here, like searching the fortress interior and transporting prisoners… but for now, it seemed the matter was settled.

“Theo!”

“Theodore-sama!”

Everyone came rushing over to me.

“Are you alright? You were using magic recklessly again, weren’t you?”

Ah. So that’s why they were worried.

“No, I’m fine… but what about everyone’s injuries? Grace… seemed to be hurt too.”

“I’m alright. My wounds have closed.”

Grace looked at me with eyes more concerned about me than herself.

“We’re fine too.”

Rosemary, Sheila, and Irmhild, who had directly faced the vampires, seemed to have no injuries. The Dullahan, which should have disappeared, had also returned.

“Marlene, is there any chance the vampires will regenerate?”

I asked just to be safe. When dealing with high-ranking vampires, it’s best to be thorough about such matters. In that regard, the Dullahan should be able to detect it and handle it if necessary.

When Marlene looked at the Dullahan, it slowly shook its head from side to side. Hmm… No regeneration. Seems we’re safe.

When I looked toward Claudia in the sky, she dispelled her barrier and descended.

“It seems Theodore was reckless again… but I’m glad you don’t have any serious injuries.”

She said this with a slightly troubled smile.

“Theodore, are you okay? Does it hurt?”

Seraphina also peered into my face as she spoke.

“No… Sorry for worrying you.”

Everyone seemed fine… but as for me, I definitely had creaking pains throughout my body. I had done the same thing as with Gardinis… and my condition had deteriorated once before. I understood why everyone was concerned.

I was aware that I had been somewhat reckless in my fighting style too, like stopping August at close range while exposing myself to the heat wave from a large fireball.

Well… let’s move to the fortress rooftop and catch our breath.

After sitting down on the rooftop and stopping my magical power circulation, I felt a heavy sensation pressing down on my body. I recalled Caduceus and had him escort Grace while activating the cursed tool.

Grace placed a hand on her chest and took a deep breath… then looked at me and smiled.

Taking another look at my own body… there was pain in my limbs and sides from the impact of blocking August’s attacks with my shield. The creaking discomfort throughout my body from using my physical body as a catalyst for magic. And then the stinging pain of burns.

Compared to times like with Gardinis, these were still minor injuries. Or rather… this time, I felt like I mainly took damage from my own magic usage. Considering that I needed to push back an opponent with those characteristics, make them flinch, and land a big technique, I think that approach was necessary.

Ashley first deployed regeneration magic arrays around us, then cast healing magic on various injured parts of my body. Finally, she applied a healing shell to ensure no burn scars would remain.

“This should take care of it. If you feel any recoil pain from teleportation magic or feel unwell, please tell me anytime.”

“Mmm… Thank you.”

“Yes.”

Ashley nodded, then exchanged a look with Grace before smiling and stepping back.

Grace stepped forward, looking somewhat bewildered as everyone watched over her.

“Ah… Sorry for worrying you.”

“No…”

I was softly enveloped as if being drawn into an embrace. Grace had pulled me close, holding me tightly.

“…Thank you. Theo got angry about my parents… and went so far as to do something so reckless for me.”

Grace said that, but…

“I was definitely angry… but that’s different from using magic recklessly. I was just being foolish, so you don’t need to worry about it, Grace.”

When I responded like that, Grace shook her head. Looking closely, I could see her eyes were slightly moist. I reached around her hair, combing through it with my fingers.

…There might have been a way to fight that would have reduced my own damage while still winning. But somehow… I wanted to smash him as quickly as possible, even if just by one second.

Hmm… Well, I guess I got what I deserved.

After holding Grace for a while, we separated. When I wiped the tears from her eyes with my fingers, she smiled bashfully.

Then Ashley and Marlene came to my side. I embraced both of them and stroked their hair.

Claudia held my head and stroked it, while Rosemary sat beside me and took my hand.

“Mmm. Case closed.”

“Fufu.”

Seeing this scene, Sheila closed her eyes and nodded while saying that, and Irmhild laughed.

Well… we still have things like checking the fortress interior and exploring the sacred land, which was the purpose of this journey.

After catching my breath, I decided to use life detection and my monocle from the upper floors of the fortress to check if anyone was hiding inside. Vampires don’t have life reactions so they can’t be detected with life detection, but the monocle can detect them through magical reactions.

King Farid’s soldiers also checked from the lower floors in order, and we eventually met up on the middle floors of the fortress. Hmm. Next is… the basement.

“We haven’t found the entrance to the hidden passage in the basement… so let’s have you keep watch on the first floor while we take a direct look at the basement section.”

“Hmm. You could leave it to us, you know? Haven’t you just been through a fierce battle?”

“It wouldn’t feel right to leave unfinished work to others.”

Besides, we weren’t the only ones who fought.

When I answered, King Farid’s eyes widened slightly before he let out a small sigh and smiled.

“…I see. Then let’s divide the work and finish quickly so we can rest sooner.”

So we decided to go outside once, then have Corulis dig another hole to the basement passage section of the fortress.

“Corulis. I want to see inside the sealed basement passage.”

When I said this to Corulis, who had only its head poking through the cobblestones, it nodded, moved to above the basement passage, and opened a hole there.

“Eek!”

“Wh-what!? A giant mole!?”

Then… we discovered some bureaucrat-looking individuals in front of the sealed basement passage rocks, looking up at us with expressions of utter despair. There were reactions on life detection. All of them were human.

“Um. Who are these people?”

When I asked King Farid, he shrugged his shoulders as he looked at their faces.

“Kahar’s sycophants. The ones who were causing chaos in the government.”

“Then we should take them into custody.”

“Indeed. They’re people who must be sent to Mernpios along with Kahar and his lot.”

“Um. If Kahar is still alive, I’d like to take care of his treatment first.”

“Understood. I’ll have someone guide you.”

It seemed Kahar had been knocked unconscious with the flat of a blade. Since he’s a magician, let’s at least apply a magic seal and secure him first.

When guided by soldiers to see him, he was tied up with ropes and under soldier surveillance… but was still lying there with his eyes rolled back.

I applied a magic seal and, for good measure, solidified it with earth magic. Then Kahar’s followers were also restrained by soldiers and brought over hanging their heads. They didn’t possess any magical power. That should suffice for Kahar’s followers.

Next… we should explore from the basement passage side toward the fortress side.

Returning to the hole Corulis had opened, I sent Caduceus ahead to scout while we advanced through the stone passage.

When we reached the area directly beneath the fortress via the hidden passage, we easily found a hidden door leading to the upper floors. Naturally, from the hidden passage side, it was made to be easily noticeable.

When we opened the door and emerged on the fortress side, it appeared to be a food storage area. The shelves were serving as the hidden door.

“The hidden passage Theodore made is more elaborate.”

“Well…”

Sheila’s words left me at a loss for a response. I have no intention of competing with the magician who built this fortress.

“There seem to be other rooms in the basement too.”

Rosemary found a door and said that. Well, let’s check that out too.

There were no life reactions inside, but I could sense magical power. Carefully opening the door and peering inside… it was a large room with a bizarre scene.

Candles and such were placed on the floor, probably using crushed magic stones to draw lines. A magic array was constructed on the floor.

We found a large room with a magic array drawn on it, a study-like room with bookshelves, desks, and chairs, and even a room displaying coffins… Hmm. The number of coffins matches too. Two coffins side by side – August and Isolde’s coffins. Then the coffins of their subordinates.

The contents of the coffins were, as expected, all empty… but it would be best to destroy them just to be safe.

“It seems they drew this magic array in this room to maintain August’s barrier.”

Claudia said this while examining the magic array room.

“Then this study next to the barrier array…”

“Might be August’s study?”

That means everything in the study is evidence. We’ll have to load it onto the Sirius.

“If those are the personal belongings of that progenitor, there might be things connected to Lady Grace’s family. It would be better for you to take custody of them rather than us.”

King Farid said this.

“Is that alright? There might be items related to the cult too…”

“Doesn’t matter. If there are things related to the cult, it would help if you could share the information.”

“Understood. Then we’ll investigate them ourselves and hand over anything related to the cult at a later date.”

“Hmm.”

Well, I guess that about covers the exploration of the fortress interior.

Let’s just quickly handle the restraint, securing, and transportation of the prisoners. I’m quite tired today too, and even though the vampires are dealt with, we still have the sacred land to consider.