When night fell, the Zarcorians retreated from the borders, bewildered by the massive attack of the Acadians. The Zarcorians did not understand what had caused the Acadians to act so frantically, and in the end they concluded that the Acadians had reinforcements or a powerful wizard in their ranks just waiting to deliver the final blow.
That day, both forces lost almost two-thirds of their troops.
...
[You have incited Perverse Acts]
[You have gained +20 Perverse Points]
[You have influenced the deaths of more than 50,000 people throughout your short life: +5 Perverse Points in all your attributes]
"System, place the 20 Perverse Points in Strength," Dylan indicated in his mind as he climbed into his carriage followed by Lina and Rener, while Selven climbed onto the coachman's seat to drive the carriage.
[Strength +20 Perverse Points]
[Strength: 29.5]
"I still have to annihilate all the inhabitants of Commander Jefferson's father's county. But I think I'll wait a little while for that. For now, I'll return to the viscountcy," thought Dylan, who was sitting inside the carriage eating a chocolate cookie he had stored in his magic ring.
"I almost forgot something. It's a shame not to enjoy the show," thought Dylan as he snapped his fingers.
...
...
In front of bonfires, or in military tents, the victorious survivors of the Acadian army celebrated.
-Ahh! Aaah!
The cries of pain were heard from a warrior of 3 Suns whose abdomen slowly and painfully inflated until it burst, scattering flesh, blood, and human debris.
Horrified faces appeared immediately, some ran to help the dying man, but soon the abdomen of another, and then another, began to swell.
Bang! Bang!...
They were grotesque fireworks.
...
The three commanders who were celebrating with wine and women left their tents when they heard the urgent calls of their closest subordinates.
The three commanders, one of whom was a viscount like Dylan's father, were horrified. They remembered the meeting where they decided to attack with all their might. The mysterious man in the robe made them swear an oath of mana and assured them that they would win even if he had to intervene, but he also told them in an indecipherable tone that now sounded chilling when they remembered it:
"Take me to the food stores. It is the will of the Crimson God to bless the food of those under his protection."
Dylan made sure that not only the magicians and warriors of 3 Moons and 3 Suns ingested his magical drops of "perverse red" color.
After blessing the food in front of the three commanders, who did not notice anything strange, he said to them:
"You will live, you must not worry. The payment has already been made and the Crimson God is satisfied."
...
One of the subordinates standing next to one of the three commanders saw his abdomen swell until it burst. Then, with his abdomen empty and his flesh exposed, the subordinate whispered to the commander with tears in his eyes:
"Help me, my commander."
That night, only a few hundred remained alive in the Acadian military camp.
...
[Perverse Acts: +4 Perverse Points]
[Mana +4 Perverse Points]
[Mana: 112]
"Rank 6 Moons, middle level. Doing so many good deeds, it's best not to neglect my rank as a mage," Dylan thought maliciously as the carriage drove away from the military camp under a light snowfall.
••••
Several weeks later, the carriage driven by Rener entered the territory of the viscountcy as the sun was about to rise.
Dylan had made the three people accompanying him take a mana oath to save himself trouble. Even though they feared him, he couldn't rule out the possibility that there might be someone who inspired more fear than he did.
...
Just as the sun had risen, the carriage Dylan was traveling in arrived at the entrance to the perimeter wall of the Gray family mansion's territory.
Two adventurers from the Ascan guild, dressed in simple clothes and of average appearance, intercepted the carriage.
"Who are you?" asked one of the adventurers in an authoritative voice.
Rener, who was driving the carriage at the time, replied:
"We have come with information about the young master of the Gray family." Rener said in a calm, almost somber voice as he showed his adventurer ID with a rank of 3 Suns.
The two adventurers from the Ascan guild looked at each other, then one of them went to report inside the mansion while the other told them to wait.
...
A few minutes later, the carriage escorted by the two adventurers from the Ascan guild arrived in front of the mansion entrance where Anelia, Eva, and Lineth were waiting.
...
Inside the carriage, the passengers were surprised to see how the man in the robe, who always appeared to be 1.80 meters tall, shrank to a height of 1.56 meters. The robe and hood were stored in the magic ring, and before them appeared a handsome and charming young man wearing an elegant white outfit with gold trim.
Dylan's gaze shone as if he were the purest being on earth.
Dylan opened the carriage door and stepped out elegantly.
"Mother!" Dylan exclaimed with a warm look when he saw Anelia, who was wearing a beautiful yellow and white dress.
Anelia did not hesitate and ran to embrace her son. She could not have been happier or more relieved. Dylan looked at Lineth, who had been his wet nurse, nanny, and personal maid.
"I missed you too, Lineth," Dylan said with a warm, charming smile.
Lineth had held back her emotions so as not to make a scene, but when she saw how Dylan greeted her, she couldn't help but cry, as she was also happy and relieved to see him.
Eva was a little surprised to see her handsome grandson, who seemed to have suffered no harm whatsoever. Then she looked at the somber faces of the three people accompanying Dylan and came to a conclusion, but she preferred to clarify it by approaching them and asking what had happened.
Just as Dylan had requested, they said that they had managed to escape from some men who had wanted to enslave them, and all thanks to an altercation between the slavers and a group that attacked them. They seized the opportunity and helped those they could, and the young master Dylan told them that if they protected him back to the viscountcy, they would never lack work. They then explained that they had to face a few enemies on the return trip and also hid their identities to avoid attracting the attention of the slavers, all while ensuring the health, well-being, and safety of young Dylan.
After listening specifically to Selven, Dylan's grandmother was able to corroborate her mistaken deduction, because she considered, seeing the somber faces of the three adventurers, that they had suffered greatly just to bring her grandson back in such good condition.
""We thank you. The Gray family will compensate you as you deserve," Eva said with a grateful tone to the three adventurers.
...
Dylan, who was heading inside the mansion, smiled charmingly at Selven, Rener, and Lina, and said enthusiastically:
"Thank you, friends!"
They felt chills, but just nodded respectfully, and then watched Dylan disappear with his mother and maid.
"Follow me, you must be tired. I'll show you to the guest rooms," said Eva, who planned to ask a little more about what had happened during the weeks Dylan was missing.
◇End of Volume 1◇