The unidentified culprit, whose face, name, and everything else remained unknown, had been toying with us all along.

There was no way he didn’t know about the survivors isolated in the capital.

When I led my party to rescue other survivors and the crimson sorcery patterns I witnessed during the recent suppression incident were evidence.

“That son of a b**** was trying to hunt us down slowly.”

Sending Siena away was a kind of amusement or a warning.

A despicable act of trying to manipulate the survivors who thought Siena was dead by sending her back to life.

Even though we didn’t know who the culprit was, it was clear that he harbored a terrible hatred for humanity.

Only the people in the capital were swept up in the zombie situation, and the flora and fauna seemed unharmed.

“How should I fight this guy?”

The sorcerer who controlled others and always stayed behind the scenes was likely not in the capital.

Considering that the fog that covered Linstead had disappeared, he probably moved to another location.

I also tried to seek help from other lords by leaking information about the sorcerer, but there was little gain.

“Maybe if I use magic or bombs to wipe out all the remaining zombies after sealing off the capital, he’ll finally show up?”

The culprit’s goal is the destruction of this world, the death of all humans.

If he faced a crisis where the vast number of zombies he had prepared could be wiped out easily, he might reveal himself.

“Hmm.”

Someone unexpectedly extended their head to me as I pondered.

“What are you worrying about so much?”

“Oh, you startled me. It’s the Second Prince.”

Aston, who was a head taller than me, was there.

“When did he silently approach like that?”

My pride was slightly hurt. Despite improving my physical strength and endurance with ‘Grow, Physical Strength,’ I hadn’t increased my sensitivity to detect movements.

“Ugh. Should I allow him to progress with a quest? Agility?”

“See for yourself.”

It was difficult to raise my stamina. That Zero, he might try to push me into intense training again with this opportunity.

“I’d like to decline for now if Michael and the Second Prince are going to increase their teaching duties.”

As I expressed my reluctance while lying on the mat that Rena had prepared on the grass, Michael grinned.

“Did Zero say something?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

“Tsk. That’s why possession users who are quick-witted are not fun.”

Look at this. It seemed I did well to put off his request, judging by his disappointed expression.

It was a sunny day, so I enjoyed a moment of leisure, rolling around here and there. Whether Aston watched or not.

Recently, my mind had been too exhausted. The reason was the intense deliberation on how to proceed with future events.

Observing me carefully, Aston spoke up.

“Things have been resolved well, but you seem to have many worries, Duke.”

“Of course.”
“Isn’t the installation of the special warp gate already an extraordinary achievement?”

“Well, the problem is… I’m puzzled about how to unravel the fundamental clues behind the zombie situation.”

When those who went out disguised as the suppression force returned with the reward of a warp gate, the people inside the mansion cheered.

Some wondered why they bothered to deal with zombies and expand the area, but they quickly forgot amidst the positive atmosphere.

Perhaps, Siena would be the one most disappointed with the outcome of this incident. The one who sustained herself with the blood and flesh of animals would be more focused than anyone else on how we would act in the future.

I continued the explanation while comfortably lying down.

“The most efficient and straightforward way to deal with the remaining zombies in the capital Agata is to use the survivors and move them outside Agata through the warp gate, then eliminate the capital from the map. Since there are no survivors left in the Duke’s estate other than us, it’s the cleanest method, especially when all the empire’s zombies are gathered here now.”

“I also agree with your words.”

Although the historic city built by the former emperor of the empire would disappear, wouldn’t this level of sacrifice be inevitable?

‘The former emperor would probably agree too. It’s to prevent any more loss of life.’

As I was contemplating, Michael appeared from somewhere and sat down next to me, joining the conversation.

“Saving lives is more important than anything else. The absent Lord would understand too.”

“…….”.

After hearing that there was no longer a Lord named Ardell, who I believed in because of Siena’s incident, Michael became somewhat cynical.

Nevertheless, his sanctity still radiated a brilliant platinum light.

“The expelled priests of the fleeing Holy See will also agree with my words. If they still have a sense of justice and righteousness.”