I hastily entered the Ravenscoft Manor with Zara. Whatever else happened, nothing must happen to the Young Lord.

’Because he’s the one who needs to manage the territory in my stead.’

I bypassed the office and entered the residence.

"Ugh, Jeremy! Jeremy, wake up!"

Fiora’s sobbing voice could be heard. As I entered the room, I saw a sickly handsome young boy lying on the bed.

He was maybe a little shorter than me, with looks that could easily land him the visual role.

Of course, his looks weren’t quite as unrealistically handsome as mine.

His skin was pale, and dark circles under his eyes made him look like a corpse.

His breathing was also faint. He looked so precarious, as if he would die if lightly touched.

"Acting Lord, what happened?"

Fiora wiped away her tears and answered my question.

"I don’t know. I was taking a walk with Jeremy, just like always, when he suddenly started coughing violently and collapsed! The doctor said his symptoms have worsened."

"Huh, what the."

As far as I knew, his symptoms were supposed to be slowly improving.

"His condition had been improving while we walked until now. Why?!"

"Ah, no, ahhh...."

Zara clutched her head in despair. Jeremy Ravenscoft, her only younger sibling and the next Lord.

He was coughing repeatedly, as if he would die any moment.

First, I approached him. After all, saving this guy was also part of my plan.

’Hmm?’

Looking closely, I saw black smoke or powder clinging near his nose and mouth. As if someone had painted him with charcoal.

’That’s strange. Where have I seen that before? It feels familiar.’

As I stared blankly, I heard Fiora suppressing her sobs.

First, I reassured her.

"He’ll be fine, Acting Lord."

"Ugh, why must this child suffer such pain...!"

Huh?

I instantly looked at Jeremy again. It finally clicked.

’Ah, the case the pastor had!’

I hastily pulled out the iron case from my pocket. Then, I took a marshmallow and threw it on the floor.

POP!

With a short popping sound, the marshmallow puffed out ominously black smoke before disappearing.

Seeing that, Fiora, Zara, and the Butler were horrified.

"Hero, what was that?"

The Butler asked, pointing at the smoke with a trembling hand. First, I explained the detailed circumstances regarding it.

I felt like I was going to be exhausted trying to explain it in the easiest way possible. But I had to.

After I finished speaking, Fiora looked down at Jeremy with a speechless expression.

On the other hand, the usually cold Zara actually flared up.

"It’s definitely that cult’s doing! We need to take them down right now!"

To think she’d get so emotional. She really cares for Jeremy.

’Though siblings like this don’t exist in reality.’

The Butler next to me adjusted his glasses and let out a grave sigh, as if he had witnessed something extremely dangerous.

"Wait a minute, isn’t this Kahlum?"

Does he know about this? To me, it’s ambiguous.

Fiora turned around.

"Butler, Kahlum? Wasn’t that an energy from legends?"

According to the history, Kahlum was an energy that only existed in legends. It was said to originate from a race called the Outer God Race, and was referred to as a god-killing power.

However, it might be real.

"Kahlum, that’s impossible!"

Zara also stepped forward to deny it. It was natural, as something that only appeared in legends was suddenly appearing before their eyes.

But the Butler remained calm. He narrowed his eyes and shook his head.

"As far as I know, an energy called Kahlum actually exists. Though, it’s only named after it."

"Th-that...!"

"When I was young, I was once an assistant to a dark wizard in the capital. That was before I joined the Imperial Special Forces... Anyway, I saw it then."

This Butler, what is he?

An assistant to a dark wizard, and from the Imperial Special Forces.

What, is his career this flashy? He’s not even Alfred.

I was secretly surprised by the Butler’s statement.

If Kahlum actually exists, it would be shocking. Even if it’s only named after it, Kahlum is Kahlum.

But that Kahlum appeared when Jeremy coughed violently.

A sigh escaped me involuntarily. Perhaps this was why Jeremy was sick.

Excessive Kahlum consumption.

Of course, only those guys would know where it started or why it turned out like this.

Fiora returned with a solemn expression. She seemed to have regained her composure.

"So, the Those Who Recite Sins Cult is managing Kahlum? At least we’ve found a connection."

"That’s about right." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

As I agreed, Fiora trembled with rage. Of all things, they had dared to touch a noble’s child. And measly cultists, at that.

"Immediately search the territory for anyone connected to the Those Who Recite Sins Cult!"

Fiora gave instructions to the Butler. Should I step in now?

"Acting Lord, as far as I know, that cult has recently been rampant in the neighboring territory."

"...In the Weaverpool territory?"

Everyone seemed surprised by the sudden mention of the neighboring territory. This was because there was a misconception that Weaverpool, being a city of engineers, would have good public security.

"Yes. The Lord of Weaverpool is also ostensibly busy cracking down on those guys. Anyway, I’ll look into it. I’ve personally grown curious about them too."

Zara grabbed my arm. She seemed to want to stop me.

"What are you going to do? What are you trying to do by yourself, it’s dangerous!"

"Don’t worry. I’ll call you if I need to. We’re partners, aren’t we!"

"Partners...?"

"Ah, partner."

I showed my familiarity. She and I are partners. It was a destiny decided the moment we had sex.

Fiora pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"Alright, do so. But we will not sit idly by either. From today onwards, anyone connected to the Those Who Recite Sins Cult must not be allowed to set foot in this territory!"

It was only natural.

I offered advice to Fiora.

"Acting Lord, this incident might be more serious than we think."

"It seems so."

"If the Young Lord Jeremy’s illness is perhaps due to Kahlum, then his symptoms must already be very severe."

"Then what we thought was an improvement until now...?"

"I suspect it might have evolved to be more potent after a kind of incubation period. Don’t you see the traces of Kahlum on his nose and mouth here?"

"It seems to have come out when he coughed. To think this insidious substance was gnawing away at my son!"

Both Fiora and Zara were enraged. The Butler merely sighed, resting his chin on his hand.

I also hoped it wouldn’t get any more serious than this.

If the Young Lord dies, then either Fiora, Zara, or I would have to become the Lord.

That wasn’t ideal.

If someone gets stuck in a specific position, they can’t even go on a sex trip!

"I will definitely find a way to cure the Young Lord Jeremy."

I said resolutely, opened the door, and left.

"Lucian!"

Someone called out, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop.

Jeremy, you absolutely have to live. I know you’ve suffered for a long time.

But just hold on a little longer. You’ve endured well until now, so prove that you have a reason to live on. Show and Prove!

Leaving the residence, I headed out of the territory. I recalled the hidden pieces that might be nearby.

’Where was that place again?’

Among them, I thought about where the item to cure Jeremy’s illness came from. Hmm, is it there after all?

"This time, I’d like to ask for Goddess’s help."

Even the smug Goddess is cute!

"I’m going to look for a dungeon this time, a hidden one."

"Just a moment."

First, I summoned Lyn.

"Kihihing!"

Riding Lyn, I ascended Uluru Hill. After looking around, I galloped southwest.

I galloped, cutting through the wind with cheerful sounds.

I kept galloping until I reached a ridge where a swamp was visible in the distance, and only then did I stop.

Today’s destination wasn’t the swamp.

"Goddess, it should be somewhere around here. Is it possible?"

I decided to wait. Then, something stirred within my body.

"Hmm?"

An energy that felt like mana, but wasn’t mana, began to surge within my body.

It felt as if a power I didn’t know was welling up.

’Is this the Goddess’s power?’

She said she lost both her power and memories. Is this all there is?

For a moment, I even had the illusion that all the blood in my body had been replaced with energy.

After about two minutes, the Goddess spoke.

"Go there!"

Ki-ing!

I looked around. A specific area was glowing golden.

Found it, it’s over there!

"Thank you."

’Its okay! But where did you heard about this place, Lucian?"

"I heard about it when I was training as a child. That there might be a dungeon nearby."

I headed towards a spot on the ridge blocked by a fallen old tree. Even at this moment, it was glowing intensely golden.

I drew my sword and swung it in a single motion.

Swoooooshhhh

As I split it open in one go, the space beyond distorted, and a large oval-shaped door appeared.

It was the entrance to the dungeon.

Heh, a laugh escaped me.

"Nice to meet you, hidden piece! Goddess, thank you!"

"Later, let’s have some damn good outdoor sex! A naked one-night date is totally possible too!"

I immediately threw myself beyond the door, along with the sensation of being rapidly sucked in.

My surroundings changed in an instant.

I was in a desolate ruin. Along with that, information about the dungeon that I had overlooked earlier was displayed.

[Abandoned Ruins]

-Composition: Open Area, 1st Floor

-Difficulty: ☆1

-Objective: Annihilation Battle

-Reward: 300 Gold, Random Item x1

※Main Inhabitants: Buffalokin, Wandering Orc

Seeing the monster composition, it was indeed the place I knew. I moved forward.

I shouted with all my might.

"It’s Show and Prove time!"