After that, I continued to hold up the sign. I also bought a few lucky charms for the captain and things the maid sisters might like. For example…….

“Magic armband.”

“Number 1!”

A magic armband that can protect the joints when the maid sisters do intense exercise. Honestly, you can buy these elsewhere too, but I wanted to give each of the sisters a gift, so I’m giving it now!

Elder sister Dedley was all smiles, but elder sister Bench had a slightly worried look. Finally, she grabbed my hand and sign tightly and asked with a concerned face.

“Where, where on earth did you get the money to buy so much……. Did you receive a lot of pocket money?”

Elder sister Dedley, who seemed to have just noticed the situation, opened her mouth in surprise and then closed it again.

“……So, so. You’re thinking of taking it from Sir Matthias’ safe, right?”

I shook my head no.

No. I had no intention of touching stupid father’s money in the first place.

‘No way. Our father is surely a beggar.’

Even if I inherited it, the assets of my father, who was a potato farmer, would clearly be nothing compared to the other powerful successor candidates of the family. Still…….

‘If we dig up gold bars, we can pay then!’

But I couldn’t say that to elder sister here.

“I have my ways.”

Seeing my smug expression, elder sister Bench still looked worried, but elder sister Dedley was different.

“As expected of our baby lady.”

After that, I continued to enjoy the benefits of being ‘Number 1’ to my heart’s content.

The men behind me whispered and murmured as if they thought I was a fool, but I would be the winner in the future anyway.

While Sien was busy pocketing secret funds and shopping for magic tools for her friends.

Matthias, who was heading to the Merci region to find Axel, was not idle either.

That night, he arrived in the Merci region where Axel Mirmode was staying. Of course, through a complex teleportation spell. Unlike others who traveled, his movement did not take much time.

Since his wife’s death, no one could guess what abilities he possessed. At least unlike others who had to rest for more than a day due to exhaustion after using teleportation magic, teleportation magic was easy for Matthias.

That’s how he arrived at the castle in the Merci region with a few of his close aides.

‘Surprisingly, there are monster cubs or people here.’

Unlike Axel Mirmode to keep people alive like this.

‘Is it the influence of that sorceress after all.’

Matthias smiled and brushed back his hair.

“So Axel is defending that castle ahead while slaughtering the surroundings, is that it.”

“Yes. It’s said he’s keeping some sorceress inside and listening to what that woman says. How to extract that woman, that’s the concern.”

Even for Matthias Mirmode, he had lost much of his power since going berserk in the Demon of Enlightenment incident.

The sealed power would gradually be released, but there were still limits.

Moreover, Axel Mirmode would give his all when facing Matthias.

‘He must have heard the news of my return.’

He pondered, stroking his chin. Going into those solid castle walls alone wouldn’t be easy.

What to do.

“It would be best to just extract the gypsy woman.”

“It will be dangerous, but I’ll try.”

“If it’s difficult for you, I’ll do it.”

The gypsy woman sorceress that Axel Mirmode was keeping would likely be a weakness.

And they planned to extract that weakness.

They expected infiltration to be difficult. They were prepared to see some bloodshed.

However, when they approached the castle walls, a woman who looked to be over 40 was already out, having slipped through the tight security.

They had already received intelligence that the gypsy had sleepwalking and wandered in and out of places.

Matthias skillfully gestured to his aide beside him.

“Lure the knights elsewhere.”

“How many minutes do you need, sir?”

To the aide’s serious question, he replied without hesitation.

“Ten minutes will be enough.”

There were numerous knights near that gypsy. Axel Mirmode probably placed them there in case of a possible attack. But luring them away was something Matthias’ aide could handle without Matthias himself.

Because Axel Mirmode here was the most dangerous.

After leaving the knights to his aide, Matthias walked leisurely.

The aide easily distracted the knights. Seeing this, Matthias approached the gypsy woman who was pitifully wandering the castle walls.

“It’s time to wake up now.”

To his dry greeting, the gypsy woman responded without a hint of surprise.

“The stars are dark today……. The wicked one has come.”

Despite calling him wicked, the gypsy didn’t panic or show fear.

Of course, she was trembling slightly, but that was all. They said she was sleepwalking, but she didn’t seem to be dreaming at all.

Staring down at her, Matthias asked in a businesslike manner.

“Were you waiting?”

“You could say that……. I suppose.”

Her attitude was nonchalant, as if she had expected him to come. Matthias smiled and replied.

“Seems you knew I was coming.”

“I guessed there would be a visitor from the shadows of the stars in the sky.”

“Then do you know who I am?”

“……That I do not know.”

Matthias tilted his head crookedly and said.

It was time to cast the dice.

The child that had been constantly bothering him, the one Sien brought, called ‘captain’.

And the result of investigating that child.

“Your son, Carol.”

……He had a strong feeling that child was this gypsy woman’s son.

Until now, his intuition had never been wrong.

This time was no exception.

At that moment, the gypsy’s face, which had been calm until then, contorted.

Matthias looked at the gypsy with a smirk.

His guess seemed to be correct.

The little one Sien brought and called ‘captain’ was this woman’s son.

Sien called him captain, but he had a proper name.

Carol, a lively name befitting a gypsy.

“……What have you done to that child?”

Her gaze wavered. Unlike someone who had ruthlessly cut off the connection with her son until now. Looking down at the gypsy woman crookedly, Matthias said.

“Your son is under my protection.”

More precisely, it was his daughter, Sien, but.

At those words, the gypsy sorceress muttered quietly.

“You have something you want from me, I see.”

“Betray Axel Mirmode and side with me.”

To Matthias’ straightforward words, the gypsy lowered her eyes.

“Do you know why I came here, abandoning even my child?”

It was an irrelevant answer.

Matthias stared at her.

“I had a prophetic dream. The people of the Merci region will die without me. I must save them while staying by Axel’s side. Even if…….”

“……Even if your son dies, you mean.”

“…….”

She couldn’t continue speaking. Matthias, like the cynical villain he was, sneered with a smirk.

“Hearing that, I understand. You’re trying to minimize casualties by Axel’s side. Mixing half-truths into your sorcery and prophecies.”

“……Yes.”

Matthias smiled slightly at the gypsy.

“I intend to send Axel Mirmode to the demon realm.”

“……The demon realm, you say?”

It was an extremely demonic idea.

The only person who would think such a thing…….

“If Axel disappears from this land forever, wouldn’t your dream come true? It seems we could be on the same side.”

Of course, that was true.

But sending a living person to the demon realm…….

No matter how much of an axis of evil Axel Mirmode was, having killed countless people.

The gypsy’s shocked face hardened.

And at that moment, a flash of realization crossed her mind.

“The only person who could do such a thing is……. Could your name be…….”

Matthias brushed back his hair and whispered coldly.

“Matthias Mirmode.”

The gypsy knew that name.

The one who made a contract with a demon, but when the demon tried to bind him, he killed even the demon.

The one who was once expelled even from the vicious Mirmode family.

The outstanding villain who even killed the judge and walked out of the trial.

‘That’ Matthias Mirmode was continuing to speak before her eyes.

“Be on my side.”

“…….”

“I’ll help prevent more innocent lives from dying, as you wish. The same goes for your son. Well, do you feel like making a deal now?”

The gypsy’s eyes widened.

That was not…… the kind of proposal Matthias Mirmode would make. She thought he would threaten her life like Axel.

But he was giving her a choice.

As if he was really making an offer.

Facing Matthias, the gypsy opened her mouth with a trembling voice.

“……You seem different from the Matthias Mirmode I’ve only heard rumors about.”

“Is that so.”

“It seems something has happened.”

Something, huh.

Yes, there was one thing.

Unlike in the past.

Now there exists a tiny baby that brings warmth to his heart, a lovable little one like a soft pink ball of yarn.

The adorable baby that wriggles and snuggles into his arms.

Matthias’ lips loosened slightly as he thought of the lovely Sien.

An expression that came out without him realizing it, as he always wore a cold expression.

It was such a gentle look that even the gypsy who was watching him closely showed bewilderment.

But Matthias’ expression quickly changed to frost-like coldness.

“Is that issue important?”

“……It was important, but I think I’ve already heard the answer.”

Just by looking at Matthias’ expression, the gypsy noticed. That he had changed.

Matthias did not point out that part while looking at the lax gypsy.

Rather, it was more efficient to ask for her decision.

“So what is your conclusion.”

The gypsy blinked.

Matthias, who had been quietly looking down at the gypsy woman, raised one corner of his mouth.

“……Do you know? Since you saved my son. Sometimes hope appeared in a future that was only despair.”

She nodded lightly and spoke as if humming.

“I will side with you.”

“You should.”

“A spy…… They said fortune tellers couldn’t read my fate, I didn’t know I would become a spy.”

It was a face half-filled with regret.

Looking at the gypsy, Matthias replied stiffly.

“You have a mission, so you’ll do well.”

Her mission was to save people, and her child.

Matthias did not believe in the propaganda that ‘the good will triumph’.

He didn’t know how much that woman could handle Axel Mirmode.

But what he knew for sure was that the more desperate one wins.

In that sense, that woman’s desperation seemed clear. But she didn’t seem to believe in herself.

Matthias simply whispered to her.

“When the mission is over, I’ll extract you without a hair harmed.”

His promises had never gone wrong until now.

The gypsy didn’t know that fact, but she laughed lowly at his trustworthy tone.

“That’s a happy story.”

“Wait. I’ll soon deliver what you need to do.”

As he was about to turn away, he narrowed his brow for a moment.

It would be proper to give some final consideration to an aide embarking on a difficult path.

“Lastly, do you have anything to say to your son?”

“……Just.”

Her expression, which had been dreamlike until now, changed momentarily.