The leader of the investigation team, angered by the word incompetence, narrowed his eyes and asked.

Actually, he had been paying attention to Zion from a while ago. However, unlike the ordinary soldiers, he wasn’t fretting over Zion’s identity.

For the leader of the investigation team, this Bric order was no different from his own front yard, and therefore, he believed that man he didn’t recognize couldn’t be an influential person.

Such belief made him more arrogant.

So, when Zion ignored him without any reply, the corner of the leader’s mouth eventually twisted bitterly.

“It seems that punishment is needed more than investigation.”

Without any other warning, the leader of the investigation team immediately swung his whip.

But the whip aiming for Zion’s neck was caught too easily in his hand.

The leader pulled his arm in surprise, but the whip caught by Zion didn’t budge.

His face turned red at the humiliation, while Zion’s expression was as cool as usual.

But now, the one more uncomfortable was not the leader but Zion.

The author might not know, but it reminded him of many unpleasant things.

Zion wanted to pull what he was holding and stick it in the ground to make this heavy feeling a little better.

But he endured it, thinking about the people behind him. That would only make him feel worse if it caused unnecessary venting later.

So Zion let go of the whip obediently. Of course, without any consideration.

The leader of the investigation team, who was struggling alone, staggered greatly and almost fell backward but quickly regained his balance.

His face twisted in shame in front of his subordinates.

“You, …!”

That thirsty man eventually brandished his sword, grinding his teeth.

“I understood that an example is needed. I will scatter your limbs on every street.”

Would the Duke of Bayon know that such a person is carrying his flag?

Already feeling unpleasant, Zion’s dislike for that old Duke grew even more.

When Zion didn’t retreat even when facing the tip of the sword, the leader became even more enraged.

He was about to swing his sword, gripping the reins when—

“Uh, what’s happening?”

A delicate voice from somewhere cut off the tension right before the sword strike.

Everyone on the scene looked at the owner of that voice and enjoyed different feelings.

The villagers felt like they had met a savior, the soldiers felt guilty, and the oncearrogant leader’s face rose with a sense of defeat.

And Zion Laurel’s already dizzy feelings became even more complicated.

“Has something unpleasant happened?”

Since there was no reply, the beautiful young lady with long black hair asked in a worried voice.

The young lady, Evie, who appeared with a butler, looked around with big eyes, saw the leader’s sword, and covered her mouth with both hands in surprise.

As Evie acted like fainting delicate ladies, the leader hurriedly put his sword away.

And he tried to smile awkwardly, but Evie, ignoring him, looked at Zion and shouted.

“Oh, Teacher! You are here. I’ve been looking for you for a long time!”

When Evie pretended to know Zion, the already forced smile of the investigation team leader became more rigid.

But Evie stood by Zion’s side, as if she was completely unaware of his feelings, and looked up at the investigation team leader as if to ask what was going on.

The helpless look in her eyes caused the investigation team leader, who was holding his ground on his horse, to have no choice but to step down from his stirrups and come down. Then he formally greeted Evie.

“I am Orki Brik, the leader of the investigation team under the direct control of the Bayon army. It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Evie Ariate of the noble tower.”

“May the brilliance of the morning’s blessing be with you in the territory of Lord Brik. Thank you for welcoming me. However, the atmosphere around here doesn’t seem very pleasant. Is something wrong? If there’s anything I can help with, please let me know.”

Evie pried into the surrounding situation even while receiving the greeting, making the situation even more uncomfortable for the investigation team leader.

Although he was a member of an illustrious family that ruled over Brik’s territory, he had no choice but to behave courteously towards Evie Ariate, a commoner. That was because the authority of Tienda and Manya Tower, to which she belonged, was so high.

“I was on duty. Thank you, but it’s nothing Lady Ariate needs to concern herself with.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

As Evie exaggeratedly brushed her chest, the investigation team leader forced a smile. Then he ordered the soldiers to retreat.

But his pride wouldn’t allow him to just move on, and he growled at Zion before mounting his horse.

“You and I will meet again soon, Glasses.”

It was an incredible nickname that Zion had never heard before in his life.

.

.

.

Although Evie’s intervention avoided friction, Zion was not grateful to her.

“You don’t have to thank me. I promised to protect you.”

Because Evie had said this so casually and grinned in a sly way.

The Bayon investigation team left, and the villagers also dispersed with sad faces.

So Zion was about to head home, but Evie naturally started to follow him.

“……Why are you following me?”

“I’m escorting you home. It’s dangerous for Glasses to be alone.”

Evie said, laughing as she called him “Glasses,” and Zion purposely lengthened his stride and walked briskly.

Then Evie followed even closer, saying,

“I never imagined it. That someone would call Count Zion ‘Glasses.'”

“‘Glasses’ is rather elegant, compared to being called a hairless brat.”

“If you like it, shall I call you that too?”

Evie said this, then suddenly darted in front of Zion. Then she stopped him and looked up at him cutely from under his chin, asking,

“But why do you wear glasses? Is your vision bad? Or do you want to look like a teacher?”

Zion, who had stopped walking, wondered what trick this was.

Evie giggled as if she was an innocent girl, then smiled without a hint of malice and said,

“They suit you.”

Evie’s voice was very sweet, so Zion restrained himself from snapping at someone he disliked.

Then Evie Ariate took it a step further and even enlisted the help of her butler.

“That’s right, Butler?”

At Evie’s question, her butler, who had been following silently, also leaned in and looked at Zion.

This made Zion quite surprised.

The same action felt very different when done by the small and slender Evie compared to her robust butler.

So Zion felt quite uncomfortable, but for now, he endured it. He had stayed still when Evie had looked, so he couldn’t just avoid it when her butler did the same.

So he endured it appropriately and pushed them away when their gazes seemed too much.

“Please move.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

Really wondering what trick it was, Evie quickly stepped back. Then she didn’t follow any further and waved to Zion at that intersection.

“You’re almost home, so I’ll take you this far. Dinner is stew tonight. Have a pleasant evening. I’ll see you again tomorrow.”

Evie turned around neatly as she said that.

Then, leaving the suspicious Zion behind, she lowered her voice and asked DS.

“Did you see it?”

“I saw it.”

“Is it correct?”

“Yes.”

DS answered firmly to Evie’s question.

Then, with the golden eyes that recognized Evie’s curse before, he spoke with certainty.

“Count is indeed under the curse of the corpse.”