If he tearfully pleaded that he did it all for Beni……

“Mother, Father. What should I do now? Sob, sob……”

Having lost her parents at a young age and lacking proper education, she remained ignorant about the ways of the world.

She should blame her sheltered environment, but Beni felt her teeth chattering from her own stupidity, unable to do anything.

* * *

Collic’s contact came late. He had expected him to come report within three days at most, but there was no news.

Should he go to the main house……

Amid all this, Beni anxiously hadn’t come to the temple either.

After waiting another five days in agitation, Collic finally visited.

With a pious expression like someone coming to pray, he calmly addressed Hameres.

“Priest, I’m very interested in doctrine education, may I ask you something?”

Collic, who had no religious faith whatsoever, looked at Hameres with apparent admiration.

Barely suppressing a laugh, Hameres calmly walked past Collic.

The two naturally exited the temple building and stood under a large tree.

“Why so late.”

“There was much to investigate.”

How corrupt must the Baron be if even someone of Collic’s skill had spent so much time?

Hameres leaned his back against the tree trunk.

“Tell me everything without omitting anything.”

“First, Baron Anbred has completely settled in Tubon, abandoning his small domain slightly removed from the capital. He’s placed a representative in his territory.”

“He crawled up to Tubon for money, entertainment, and social opportunities.”

“His current assets aren’t substantial. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he lives off support from the Baroness’s family. Oh, the Baron took in a girl long ago.”

Hameres’ forehead subtly contorted. Fortunately, the wind blew his hair, concealing the change in his expression.

But Collic couldn’t fail to notice his master’s suspicious behavior.

His eyes immediately brightened.

“Beni Numora. You ordered the investigation because of her, right?”

“Helping a devotee in trouble is only natural.”

Collic half-believed him, examining Hameres’ countenance before continuing his report.

“She certainly found herself in trouble. The Baron has been embezzling all of Miss Numora’s sponsorship money. The maids in that house say the young lady’s situation is quite pitiful.”

“So it was true.”

“Not only that, but he seems to be privately managing the inheritance left for the young lady through collusion with the deputy bank manager. To confirm this for certain, we’d need to contact a bank executive.”

“Meet with the bank president on my behalf.”

“The bank… president?”

“Bring enough money to make his eyes roll, and he’ll meet with you.”

Since it would be linked to the bank’s performance, he wouldn’t easily refuse.

The report seemed to be concluding.

Suddenly, he couldn’t understand why it had taken eight days to gather this much information.

When he narrowed his eyes and stared, Collic unexpectedly heaved a deep sigh.

“The young lady’s circumstances are truly pitiful. She lived with the Baron without knowing he was her enemy.”

“Since when do you add personal opinions to reports? Explain clearly.”

“I apologize.”

The word “enemy” fueled his foreboding.

Hameres wanted the Baron’s true nature revealed, yet feared confronting Beni’s devastating reality.

The wounds she had already suffered were enough. He couldn’t even guess how much more pain she would have to endure.

“I followed him when he went out, and the Baron contacted a suspicious man. So I tracked that man too.”

“You found a clue.”

“Wow…… he was truly vicious. The list of crimes included contract k*lling, fraud, and more.”

“Contract k*lling?”

“Yes. After meeting with the Baron, he’s been wandering around pretending to be a vagrant. The Baron likely solicited m*rder. And the target is……”

“Beni Numora?”

“……Yes.”

For a moment, Hameres’ face turned ashen.

Immediately grasping his master’s unusual reaction, Collic spoke softly.

“Don’t worry. The young lady hasn’t left the house for days, so there’s been no opportunity for harm. I’ve now sent someone trustworthy to protect her.”

“Collic.”

“Yes.”

“Thank you sincerely. I won’t forget this favor.”

Collic smiled with his lips tightly pursed, seemingly embarrassed.

When a gust of wind blew, both men uttered the same words simultaneously.

“Upon investigation, the person who killed the young lady’s parents was also a vagrant.”

“Her parents were also attacked by a vagrant.”

An ominous premonition overwhelmed him.

Though a premonition, it was also a firm intuition.

The floating circumstances aligned so clearly that it sent chills down his spine.

Killing intent rose in the face of the priest who served Lord Drahim. Seeing Hameres’ demeanor rapidly turn menacing, Collic responded gently.

“I’ll look into it myself, so please absolutely don’t come to the forefront. I promise to carry out your orders without fail.”

“Alright, understood.”

“I won’t neglect my duties to His Grace the Duke either. The master and madam are also very… healthy.”

Though he conveyed regards from his brother and parents, urging him not to worry, Hameres didn’t bat an eye.

Having already settled his ties with his family, he felt no emotional response.

While saddened by their severed relationship, Collic didn’t force emotions on Hameres. He must have already realized that his former master had found someone new to care about.

The Collic he knew was someone who would wholeheartedly fulfill what might be his master’s last request, and more.

Hameres bowed his head to thank his loyal subordinate.

“Thank you once again.”

“P-please don’t do this. Rather, treat me mercilessly without blood or tears like before.”

“We’re now in a relationship where I must make requests, not orders. I should treat you respectfully.”

“You’re sincere.”

To her.

The unspoken words rode the wind to his former master’s ears.

* * *

Once Collic took action, things progressed rapidly. Meanwhile, Beni began visiting the temple while receiving invisible protection.

She remained completely unaware that the man disguised as a vagrant who had been circling around her had been secretly captured and detained somewhere.

Hameres treated Beni exactly the same as usual. Of course, not having seen her for nearly ten days, he thoroughly examined her with his eyes the moment they met to check for injuries.

When he heard her powerless answer that it seemed too early for her to become independent, he felt such rage he thought he might go mad. He could clearly envision the Baron threatening or manipulating her.

Collic said he would visit the territory where Beni lived as a child. He returned about a month later.

Though he hoped it wasn’t true, his desperate hope shattered in an instant.

“I heard from a villager that a serf helped the lord and lady. He said the serf discovered the lord and lady under attack and swung a knife at the vagrant. I tracked down this serf and showed him a drawing of the man’s face.”

“What did he say?”

“He confirmed it.”

“Haa…… I see. Both the serf and the killer disguised as a vagrant are important witnesses who must be carefully monitored.”

“When do you plan to expose this?”

“After consoling Miss Numora so she won’t be shocked.”

“Understood. We’ve completed all preparations, so contact me anytime.”

Through the bank president, they uncovered the deputy manager’s corruption. Evidence emerged that he had conspired with Baron Anbred to already embezzle part of Beni’s assets.

The Baron would not escape severe punishment for the crime of extorting another’s property plus the charge of soliciting m*rder.

Intending to completely destroy the Baron, Hameres borrowed the Emperor’s power. During an audience with the Emperor in his capacity as an outstanding priest, he lamented the hardships of a devotee and reported the Baron’s evil deeds.

The Emperor’s order came down that very day, and the Baron was detained in Tuan prison.

No sooner had the household been devastated than Beni came looking for Hameres.

“The Baron has been arrested. Did you have something to do with this?”

“Why didn’t you ask for help?”

“What?”

“Too early for independence? Why didn’t you tell me the Baron was extorting your money?”

“If you mean the sponsorship money, I told him to take it all.”

Hameres fiercely furrowed his brow, feeling utterly frustrated.

“Let’s set aside the sponsorship money, but didn’t you say they also managed the inheritance your parents left you?”

“……Yes. I asked him to return it, but he said it couldn’t be done right away.”

“He touched the inheritance too.”

“W-what? Is that true?”

“He colluded with the deputy manager to divert part of your assets.”

Beni froze in shock. The Baron’s atrocities didn’t end there.

The truth that could no longer be hidden awaited her.

“You said your parents were killed by a vagrant?”

“W-why?”

“It was the Baron’s doing. Knowing your father, a minor lord, had limited power, he planned the m*rder deliberately. The crime targeted the sponsorship money and assets.”

“That vagrant……”

“He killed your parents while disguised as a vagrant. If I hadn’t intervened, you would have been murdered too. We’ve captured and detained the perpetrator.”

Beni exhaled emptily with an expression like she might collapse at any moment.

Struggling to breathe, she barely swallowed air, then trembled while exhaling, repeating this pattern.

Still unable to calm down, she pounded her chest hard.

“T-this can’t be…… So I’ve been living in the same house with my enemy all this time?”