The Villainess Who Was Dumped Got Married into My Family, a Mob Noble from the Frontier, and Turns Out, She's an Amazing Capable Wife? - Chapter 98: Patricia Kindred - A Sick Country

Chapter 98: Patricia Kindred – A Sick Country

“…Really, such a fool.”

The youngest son of the Brave family, exhausted from his battle with Edward, was easily defeated by Belial. Watching this scene, I couldn’t help but hold my forehead in disbelief.

Despite having his chest pierced, he remained unfazed, and even as just a head, he viciously bit at his opponent. It was a sight unbefitting of a hero’s lineage.

Given how he had constantly interfered with my plans at the academy, I thought he was someone to avoid getting close to anymore, but…

But in a situation without game knowledge, he’s just a reckless boar, right?

“Sigh, to think I was obstructed by such a person until now.”

I sighed, feeling utterly let down. 

How could someone with memories of the modern world be so ruthless in killing fellow humans?

The Brave territory, a land called the Abandoned Lands, had a deep grudge against the Continent Principality.

For a long time, there had been constant skirmishes between our lands.

Is that why? 

Has the long war changed people so much?

However, looking at this man whose head and body were separated,

“He’s far from the Hero of the story…”

I thought to myself that it’s no wonder he’s called the monkey of the forsaken land, with such an unhinged mentality.

If this is what it takes to be a hero, then anyone could be a hero.

“What was your question again?”

Holding the head of the dead Brave in one hand and Edward’s lifeless body in the other, Belial descended from the sky to where I was sitting among the spectators.

The chain of deaths had reached a point where it seemed like some kind of curse.

“First, put down that filthy corpse you’re holding.”

I commanded, responding to his question with an order.

“No can do. I’m taking this with me.”

This demon had forcibly possessed the newborn Jelasis and was an existence that could be called the taboo of the Ignite family. 

That’s why I was familiar with it.

In my childhood, I had freed Jelasis from Belial’s torment. 

Since a demon can’t stay in the mortal world without a host, I thought I would never see him again.

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten the favor of being freed from that child’s body.”

“Freed? I only felt deceived.”

Belial tilted his head and tossed Brave’s head to me.

“I don’t need this. It’s already tainted. I hate the smell.”

Though I didn’t want the fool’s head, it would cause problems if left as it was, so I accepted it for now.

“So, why are you here…?”

“Replenishment. Look up, the protective barrier is gone.”

“I can see that.”

I haven’t done anything to the barrier yet.

It was going to take a bit more time for the forces from the Principality to reach here, passing through the territories controlled by the Marquis family. Despite that, the barrier suddenly vanished.

“It was supposed to take much longer to vanish. You told me that.”

He had told me this in a past conversation. 

He wasn’t the type to babble on about the truth, but unlike corrupt nobles, he never lied.

So, the protective barrier must have been destroyed by someone else, not me.

The only items capable of rewriting the authority here were the holy relic I had for the Jelasis route or the holy relic snatched from Edward by this fool.

“…If you do anything to her, to Mariana, I won’t forgive you.”

“Too many questions. As for my purpose, I know through the Principality of Continent that you’ve been plotting something bad for this country.”

“Well, that’s true.”

The dark organization that the two Marquis families were secretly controlling had made a blood pact with the Aetherdam royal family, who held the rights.

I knew everything was exposed and figured there was something shady behind the Marquis families’ hesitant support.

But I didn’t care. 

As long as I could access the protective barrier, nothing else mattered. 

There were benefits for everyone involved, and I could move freely.

I even warned this fool with the holy relic not to do anything weird. The other relics were all collected in the summer and thrown into the sea of the Principality.

With that, the cursed barrier would be gone, and it couldn’t be restored. 

I endured all those awful reverse harem routes for this reason.

Now, Mariana wouldn’t face a future where she dies.

“Who would’ve thought that one girl could change an entire country?”

Belial continued.

“Aetherdams summoned me through the Ignites to stop you.”

“Well, summoning you again shows that family is doomed.”

“Don’t be so harsh. They’ve enjoyed enough sweet benefits by turning a blind eye until now. They don’t need the rest of their lives.”

His words implied they might be wiped out, or close to it, soon.

“Belial, if your goal involves the barrier, then answer me.”

“The royal family knew that the barrier wouldn’t last long. The arrival of the hero’s bloodline and the false saint just sped things up.”

Belial floated up slightly.

“Their mission is to maintain the barrier. Foolishly, they asked me to help, which is quite a sin. But a promise is a promise.”

Belial laughed mockingly at the situation.

“If saving a million lives by sacrificing one girl is worth it to them, then so be it. Humans are truly fascinating creatures.”

“Wait. You don’t need Edward’s body.”

“You saw that battle. This one is special. He has the potential to rebuild the barrier. You could call him a vessel of the sage.”

“Do you think I’ll let you escape? If you get in my way, I’ll kill you.”

“I could say the same, but unfortunately, I have no means to kill you. Spirits are troublesome. They possess the same pure, dense magical essence as us, yet they alone are allowed to exist in this world.”

It’s true that Belial couldn’t kill me.

But at the same time, I didn’t have a definite way to kill him either. 

That’s our current situation.

“How many sacrifices have been made to manipulate the fate of souls and such grandiose things… Foolish, but I don’t dislike it.”

With those final words, Belial vanished, taking Edward’s body with him.

“…Seriously, what a huge mess this is? Damn it, damn it, damn it.”

I grabbed Brave by the hair and slapped him across the face repeatedly. 

This idiot’s fault. Fighting to the death here and actually killing Edward—what kind of hero’s bloodline is that?

“Well, first, let’s revive him. His barrier seems to be preventing blood loss and keeping circulation going, so he really has a cockroach-like tenacity.”

His strength can be useful. He has the potential to become a sword that can even cut down Belial.

Considering he’d likely agree to protect Mariana, reviving him wouldn’t be a loss.

“Honestly, this kingdom relies so much on demons.”

I sighed, looking at the sky where the barrier had disappeared.

What did the ancient saint feel when she became the barrier for such a country? 

Forced into it, most likely.

From what Belial said, Edward seems to be a reincarnation of the ancient sage.

“What a disgusting obsession.”

Throughout history, possessive men are disliked. 

It’s more like the story of Orihime and Hikoboshi, isn’t it? A romantic, troubled guy is the last thing you’d want as a boyfriend.

“Damn it, damn it, damn it!”

With each slap, his barrier somehow grew stronger.

It’s now ingrained at a cellular level. Calling him a planarian instead of a cockroach wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

“It’s frustrating that the only way to bring him back is with a kiss.”

Well, considering he spent so much time under the same roof with Alicia, a kiss or two shouldn’t be a big deal.