The Villain Carries the Holy Sword – Chapter 96.1

Chapter 96.1: Spring of Salvation (4)

Marquis McLoud, sitting on a pile of supply boxes, raised his hand high and shouted.

“Hey! Little Ross!”

At that moment, the bustling northern outpost came to a standstill.

And where Marquis McLoud’s eyes were headed.

There was Marquis Ross with his shiny head and a green-haired man. Marquis Heatherward Ross slowly turned his head.

“…….”

In the silence where even the drop of a needle could be heard, Marquis McLoud grinned.

“You’re an old uncle now. It seems like just yesterday you were hanging out with the other kids.”

Marquis McLoud is the one who has been the head of the Seven Noble Families of Airian for the longest time. Naturally, he watched Hybolt, Ross, and the others spend time together.

Knowing full well how their relationship had soured, bringing up the past was nothing more than a statement to get on Ross’s nerves.

Marquis Ross raised an eyebrow once and replied.

“Why aren’t you dead yet, old man? It’s about time you kicked the bucket.”

Silence once again gripped the outpost.

There were many who were curious about the meeting of the two giants who controlled Airian.

However, no one expected them to talk like people who had met at a tavern after a long time.

“If you die as a marquis, you just die, but if you die as a king, it’s a state funeral. If you’re going to die anyway, you might as well die as a king.”

Marquis Ross’s eyes narrowed.

He frowned at Marquis McLoud, who answered calmly.

“You’ve changed.”

“How so?”

Marquis McLoud replied, resting his arm on the box and lying down.

Marquis Ross stood still, his eyes fixed.

“You used to genuinely covet the throne, but not anymore.”

By now, those who were listening to their conversation began to be careful even breathing.

It was a conversation where even the sound of their breath could get them killed by the two giants.

Marquis McLoud clicked his tongue.

“Can your bloodline even tell if someone is lying or not?”

“I was just testing the waters, but I guess I was right.”

Marquis Ross smiled faintly.

Marquis McLoud, struck by an unexpected blow, shook his head.

“Not only is your head bald, but you’ve also become quite the political schemer.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“You’ve become quite the snake, just like Hybolt.”

“Please refrain from insults.”

Thud.

Marquis McLoud got off the box with a movement that was uncharacteristic of his age.

However, his body, worn out by time, was already shrunken, and his back was bent, so he had to look up at Ross.

But his eyes grew deeper.

Marquis McLoud’s eyes gleamed intensely.

“Put up a soundproof barrier.”

Marquis Ross looked to the side.

Rhys, who had been frowning since they arrived, frowned at the look in his eyes for a moment before stepping back and extending his arms.

Woo woo woo woo━.

A green wind blew, and a green barrier unfolded, surrounding McLoud and Ross.

It was a barrier that prevented the sound inside from escaping.

Marquis McLoud tilted his head slightly and looked at Rhys, who was standing outside the barrier.

“The elf who surrendered was a woman, wasn’t she?”

“There was one more.”

“Elder level?”

“Yes.”

“You piece of trash.”

Marquis McLoud knew that Marquis Ross had joined hands with the elves.

He had let it slide because it was to his advantage, but seeing it with his own eyes felt different.

Marquis Ross, who was on the same side as the elves, whom he considered his national and personal enemy, was disgusting.

“Didn’t you already know that?”

Marquis Ross chuckled.

He didn’t care about being insulted.

And the insult just now was not only directed at him, but also at Marquis McLoud, who had joined hands with such a man.

“Do you hate Hybolt that much?”

“I won’t answer that.”

Their eyes met.

The giants of this era, the victors of central Airian, were looking at each other.

“The deal is certain, right?”

Marquis Ross nodded at McLoud’s words.

“Of course.”

“Can you make sure my granddaughter achieves enough in this northern expedition to be recognized as king, as per our deal?”

“She will be the first monarch in Airian history to set foot in the ‘Deep Forest’.”

Marquis McLoud, who was closer to a ruthless merchant than a noble nobleman, stroked his chin for a moment.

“Then I’ll keep my eyes closed as promised.”

“Good.”

Marquis Ross turned around.

In the end, their relationship was nothing more than one of mutual benefit.

Marquis McLoud had a straightforward personality, but they shouldn’t have even spoken to each other in the first place.

“Wait.”

McLoud stopped Ross.

Ross, who was about to leave the soundproof barrier, stopped and turned his head.

“I heard Cain and Princess Oleciren stopped by the royal capital.”

Hybolt’s heart was dead.

Therefore, if there were any enemies of the two marquises, it would be Oleciren and Cain, who were struggling desperately.

McLoud told him what he had seen on his way north, and Marquis Ross raised the corners of his mouth.

“I know. I also know they will come through Roscommon.”

“Can you stop them? Hybolt suddenly came to his senses and gave them the ‘Headbreaker,’ which he had been cherishing.”

Marquis McLoud, who had advised Cain to leave the dying Hybolt alone, now felt like crawling into a hole.

On the other hand, Marquis Ross, who knew everything, hid his true feelings and said,

“Yes. I didn’t expect him to give that to Cain either. But it’s different now. I will stop them before any unnecessary trouble arises.”

At his assertion, McLoud smacked his lips.

“If you say so, I’m sure you will. Whether you kill them or stop them with political maneuvering, I’m sure you’ll find a way.”

“It’s ironic that you know me so well, old man.”

“What’s wrong with that!”

Marquis McLoud snapped.

At that moment, Marquis Ross’s eyes flashed sharply again. It was a chilling look that could only be felt from a sharp weapon.

“Is that child, Cain, more desirable than the throne?”

A faint red haze could be seen in Marquis Ross’s eyes.

Seeing that, Marquis McLoud clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, you’re quick to catch on.”

“You should forget about it now.”

Marquis Ross looked south.

“Because they won’t be able to come here.”

On the other hand, Marquis McLoud let out a faint chuckle.

“Did you use your dirty tricks again?”

“I’m just doing my best.”

“You’re going to get yourself into big trouble one day.”

“I just need to make sure I don’t get caught until the end of this expedition.”

As Marquis Ross exited the barrier, it dissipated softly.

“Lastly, I don’t see the ‘Pseudo-Grand Magic Barrier’, What happened?”

When it was impossible to build a magic circle on a grand scale like the royal palace of Lindbloom, but it was necessary to prevent the large-scale manifestation of magic or supernatural powers.

It was common sense to use a simplified version of the Grand Magic Barrier.

And it was always Marquis Ross who kept and managed the barrier, but it was nowhere to be seen this time.

Marquis Ross shrugged.

“With wizards coming and going, and ways to break the barrier, do you think it’s necessary?”

“That makes sense.”

And Rhys, following Ross’s orders to lead the Elveknights and stop Cain and his party, immediately headed south.

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