Chapter 61
A cough sounded behind Maya and Tristan.
“Um… When would be an appropriate time for us to say hello?”
Startled, Maya peeked her head out from Tristan’s arms.
“What the…!”
“Greetings, Your Grace. It’s been a while.”
There stood two familiar faces waving cheerfully—an unexpected visit from Robert and Alec.
After seating Robert and Alec, Maya explained the situation.
“A butterfly creature appeared and took your friend away, Your Grace?”
Alec was shocked to learn that the giant monster had taken Kendrick.
‘He didn’t seem like someone who’d go down easily.’
Though Alec hadn’t witnessed Kendrick’s full strength, the aura he exuded had been enough to convince him the man was formidable.
If Kendrick was defeated, just how powerful was that monster? Alec couldn’t even begin to imagine.
“And you’re saying that monster wasn’t just any beast, but one of the First Demon King’s subordinates?”
Even to Alec—who had only heard of demon kings in legends—Maya’s account was unbelievable.
So far, Maya had already defeated two of the demon king’s subordinates.
It made him once again realize how incredible she was—especially recalling how she had easily wiped out the white sand beast in the North.
If Maya hadn’t been there… they might have all died. The thought made his blood run cold.
‘I really do need to serve Lady Maya properly.’
The northern knights had been split into two groups: those who would follow Robert to the capital, and those who would remain to protect the North.
With Robert leaving, a temporary captain was needed—someone both skilled and respected.
He entrusted the role to Dmitri, the most talented among them.
Though young, Dmitri possessed the qualifications of a true captain. He was, after all, the only one who hadn’t gone down in a single strike during a sparring match with Maya.
The more Alec thought about it, the more amazing Maya seemed.
He had returned, hopeful to request another sparring session (even if he knew he’d get beaten up), but to hear a giant monster had appeared instead—
“A butterfly monster that uses illusion magic? And it possessed a mage’s body to control them?”
The constant revelations left Alec dizzy.
He’d never even heard of a monster that could inhabit a human body.
‘And it even used illusion magic…’
This was a whole new level compared to the monsters they’d encountered so far.
“The wolf that appeared before was also strange… These creatures aren’t normal,” Robert added with a sigh.
“We don’t have many records, but it’s said that the Demon King’s direct subordinates wielded immense power. That’s why they were so difficult to defeat.”
Tristan recalled reading something like that in the Imperial Library.
“…When the Demon King fell, for some unknown reason, his subordinates scattered instead of fighting alongside him.”
“Oh….”
That was new even for Maya.
Now those long-dormant followers were reawakening and going on rampages.
‘But why did the wolf surrender to me at the end?’
Her fight with the white sand beast had gone the same as last time. But the wolf had been different—it had fought her fiercely, then suddenly accepted its death.
‘Even taking on Kendrick’s form… There must be a reason.’
Just like how the white sand beast had left behind a gem, the item she received this time also likely came from the beast.
But why give it to her?
“And about that gem the butterfly in Kendrick’s form gave me…”
Maya pulled out the stones.
“This is the opal left behind by the white sand beast.”
The brilliant opal shimmered in her hand.
“And this ruby was left by the wolf.”
“…Couldn’t these gems be cursed?” Alec offered cautiously.
It was no coincidence that a gemstone had appeared every time she defeated a monster.
“I don’t sense any curses.”
Before anyone realized it, Tristan had already taken the stones from Maya and narrowed his eyes.
“You can see that just by looking?”
“…If they were cursed, I have a feeling a black light would’ve shown.”
He muttered the words quietly.
It was something he instinctively knew.
Having healing power also meant knowing when and how to use it—and this new ability had proven surprisingly useful.
“Your Grace is becoming more and more powerful,” Robert said in awe.
“Was the previous Duke able to use his powers like this?”
“No. He only had minor healing abilities. I imagine it was the same for all previous members of the Bayarden family.”
Robert, whose family had served the dukes for generations, answered with confidence.
“So this change began with Tristan…”
Just as the Pendragon family had awakened powers to face the coming resurrection of the Demon King, perhaps the Bayardens were doing the same.
“I don’t know anything about that,” the white dragon said, shaking his head beside them.
“Pendragon didn’t separate that part of Bayarden’s memories from himself.”
Though Pendragon had embedded parts of his soul containing information for future generations into his sword, he had left almost nothing about the Bayarden family.
“No matter how powerful you get, it’s the same.”
Creating a new consciousness meant losing memories.
Pendragon valued Bayarden’s memories too deeply to let them go. So he didn’t leave any behind.
“So that’s why Bayarden’s soul fragment has nothing left,” Tristan murmured, recalling that Maya said the white dragon remembered little about her.
“Lord Bayarden must not have wanted to lose anything.”
Perhaps he had valued his memories even more than Pendragon did.
“I’ll be keeping the gemstones,” Maya said, snatching the stones from Tristan.
“What if something gets summoned from them? I’ll keep them.”
“What if a curse does spread later? You’re good at fighting, Maya, but you’re completely hopeless at taking care of yourself.”
“…You sound just like Kendrick.”
Both Kendrick and Tristan always cornered her with arguments she couldn’t refute.
Maya picked up the ruby from Tristan’s hand.
‘Still, the white sand beast seemed weaker than the wolf.’
She had taken down the white sand creature almost instantly after awakening, but the wolf had been a much harder battle.
She sighed, clutching the ruby tightly.
It was because Kendrick’s face kept appearing in her mind.
Seeing her expression darken, Tristan quickly focused his power.
It was his first time trying to project his ability this way, so pinpointing a location wasn’t easy.
Maintaining the effect far from his physical body was also a challenge.
He finally located the remaining traces of power just before the barrier faded.
“The last place I sensed the energy was in the West. I can’t be more specific than that.”
“…The West.”
Things were unfolding just as Maya had expected—and also in ways she hadn’t.
She had suspected illusion-type monsters might appear in the West, after all.
Robert chimed in.
“If it’s the West… that’s the region under Marquess LeBour. I actually wanted to ask if you’d consider speaking with him.”
“Marquess LeBour, huh.”
Tristan tried to recall the face from the reports.
“He’s popular and powerful. Also considered a scholar. Everyone in the West knows his name.”
“I think I saw him in one of the reports you sent.”
“Yes. He loves the West dearly and hasn’t had much interaction with the Bayarden family.”
The distance between the West and North was significant, and the Bayardens were notoriously reclusive, so they hadn’t bothered forming connections with distant noble houses.
“It’s time to start forging those connections,” Maya said.
“But whether he’ll support removing the emperor… that’s the question.”
Being powerful wasn’t enough—they needed aligned intentions.
If there was even a hint of potential betrayal, it would be safer to avoid getting close in the first place.
“I believe Marquess LeBour will be an ally.”
She understood that Tristan and Robert were discussing all this to build their own faction.
Bayarden couldn’t prepare for rebellion alone.
They needed allies who shared their goals.
“If that’s the case, then of course we’ll welcome him.”
