"Ugh, I really didn't want to come, but leaving this one place undone would just bug me..."
I'd been going through the believer conversion work methodically, sweet-talking Sophia in between, but the day finally arrived.
The Vermilion Marquis's territory.
Where my family home used to be.
According to Geese, I'd already been struck from the noble registry, so I was just a commoner now.
I hadn't wanted to come here emotionally, so I kept putting it off—and sure enough, it ended up being last.
Also, I'd been picking off assassins from the Church one after another, so things had been quiet lately with no more showing up.
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In this Vermilion territory too, my status as a heretic was well known.
There's no social media or anything, so I always wonder why word spreads so fast.
Is it because there's some social-media-like skill, or because the Church's word-of-mouth network is just that impressive?
Either way, it works out since I can find my target converts right away.
And so I was in the middle of converting everyone.
"A-Alan... sir, please take this."
A maid handed me a letter.
If I remembered right, this was the person who—when I was being treated coldly at the marquis's estate—would secretly bring me warm food and let me take a warm bath.
From the looks of it, she hadn't suffered any particular abuse.
Good. I was worried that someone who'd shown kindness to the pre-exile me might have ended up in a bad situation.
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The letter I received read:
"Kane has lost the [Swordmaster] skill. As such, a new heir will be decided—come to the manor."
It was written in an incredibly long-winded, roundabout way.
Basically: I really, really don't want to do this, but I have no choice, so come.
It felt like a trap, but if it had been some fawning letter like "Please, I'm begging you to come back—I'm sorry for everything," I definitely wouldn't have gone.
That would've been way too suspicious.
Since I'm going anyway, I might as well take the bait and eat right through the trap.
And while I'm at it, put an end to all these pointless grudges.
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"Hey, is he really going to come over a letter like that?"
Ryan, head of the Vermilion family, was skeptical about whether Alan would actually show up based on such a letter.
"Yes. The Sword Saint's Temple. That's why we specifically had your son write about losing his skill. Given your family's exile incident, he'd likely come just to mock the fallen heir."
The man answered.
"You think so? That fellow with the trash skill wouldn't have that kind of guts. I'd think he'd be afraid of my retaliation and stay away."
"Not at all. Your son—well, your former son—is quite formidable, I assure you."
"You say that as though you've seen it firsthand. I didn't know you were affiliated with the Church. So your adventurer rank of Orichalcum was just a facade. Well, it's none of my concern. So long as he can be disposed of."
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Skills: [Reverse], [Divine Eye], [Sword God], [Gentleman Thief], [Dark Magic], [Rock Iron Magic], [Holy Magic], [Space-Time Magic], [Scorching Magic], [Freezing Magic], [Magic Hand], [Seduction], [Pain Relief], [Complete Status Abnormality Resistance], [Fire Spirit's Protection], [Phantom Demon], [Lightning Speed], [Dark Spirit's Protection], [Monstrous Strength], [Thunder God Sword], [Fortune], [Clear Storm Magic], [Humility], [Heaven's Gate]
Rank: Gold (Alisa: Gold)