The Money-Obssessed Archmage's Second Life As A Broke Duke-Chapter 41 - Shadow Knights Of Halcrest

Chapter Fourty-One

"Lily, huh?"

I murmured, my voice dropping to a cold hum.

I watched as the boy’s shoulders tensed. His fingers gripped the fabric of his tattered trousers until his knuckles turned white. The air around him seemed to thicken. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"Haaah... You’re just eleven years old and you’re already plotting to take my daughter away from me, you little brat?"

The sheer audacity of it. How dare he, a mere SSS-Rank prospect, eye my SSSS-Rank money bank with such possessive intent? Lily was my ultimate asset to discover mana stones in the vast range of mana peaks without exerting myself to come up with a magical equation. I didn’t appreciate competition, especially from someone whose head barely reached my waist.

"I was there for Lily before you even knew of her existence, Your Grace," Zien replied.

His voice didn’t crack. It didn’t waver. It lacked the high-pitched innocence of a child and instead carried the dry, hollow resonance of someone who had seen the bottom of a coffin.

Even though, he’s SSS Rank, I don’t like him, Sysi.

[Ping!]

[He’s a good card. You should think about it calmly.]

Alright.

"Is that so?" I tilted my head, my eyes tracking the faint, dark mist swirling around his ankles.

A 1st Circle Necromancer? Huh.

"But, I thank you for saving Lily in this life," Zien continued, his gaze drifting to the door where Lily had vanished. "I was terrified when I returned and she wasn’t at the orphanage. God... I truly hate those children. Why must she be kind to everyone? It’s a sweetness that invites parasites."

Out of everything he said, my head only caught one phrase. I played it back in my mind, weighing it like a heavy coin. "In this life? You speak as if you’re inviting me to notice something, brat."

Zien’s eyes snapped back to mine. They lacked the innocence of a child. "And what would that be, Your Grace?"

"You speak like a man who has already seen the end of the book. Like you’ve been reincarnated or something equally cliché."

I waited for the denial, the stuttering, or the fear. Instead, Zien let out a short, mirthless laugh.

"It is true. I thought you would have had me burnt at stake if you figured that out which obviously had a very low percentage chance considering your dumbness. You’ve changed a lot well, Your Grace. Perhaps, you remember your past too."

"I don’t remember much," I lied, my face a mask of bored indifference. In the game of information, the one who reveals the least holds the most cards. And, what will an eleven year old do knowing about my transmigration anyway. "I’m just confused as I find things I’ve forgotten."

"You don’t have to explain to me. I know quite a bit about it myself. Some of my memories are indeed hazy. I suppose it’s a side effect." He sighed, closing his eyes. "I’m just lucky. I remember her. That’s all I need."

Why is that longing looking making my heart ache? Why does it feel like I’m forgetting something very important?

I leaned forward, the shadows of the room lengthening as the candles flickered. "So, how did a Necromancer learn how to rewind time. Wouldn’t summoning Lily as an undead would have been more efficient?"

The temperature in the room plummeted. Zien’s shadow stretched across the floor, twitching with a life of its own. "I would never do that to her. The pain of it... The rotting of soul... Not a chance."

I hummed, unimpressed by his sentimentality. Sentiment was a luxury for the weak, but in this case, it made him predictable. "I hope you know I have no intention of giving my daughter’s hand into a powerless eleven year old’s hand."

"I have no intention of taking it now." Zien countered. "That’s why I’m revealing my secret to you."

"What do you want then, little brat?"

"A deal."

"Go on."

Zien turned his little head, letting his eyes meet mine. "Lily... She always wanted to be a princess. I want you to adopt her. I want Your Grace to give Lily the Halcrest name."

I tapped my finger against my chin. "Since it’s a deal, I assume you’re offering something of equal value. I don’t do charities just from hearing emotional stories, Zien."

"A piece of information and my loyalty."

I let out a derisive snort. "Hnff... How would the loyalty of an eleven year old benefit me?"

"I am not strong enough yet," Zien said, his voice dropping to a whisper that sounded like dead leaves skittering on a grave. "But I will grow stronger than anyone in this land. Let me and my undead be the shadow knights of the Halcrest Duchy. You won’t regret it. I will handle the filth you don’t want to touch. I’ll protect this place with my life, as long as she is safe, alive and happy."

"And the information?"

Zien’s expression turned grim. "Two days later, you might die due to food poisoning. You must fast that day and close the door of North that day. No one must leave North from that day till you have an army that can defeat the Emperor."

"I see." I stared at him for a long beat.

[Ping!]

[What is Host going to do?]

The information is something I already figured out.

[Ping!]

[How?]

The letter was unopened so it should have arrived after midnight when Vische came here to cause trouble. So, if today is day one then two days later if the door is still not closed, the Emperor will definitely attack.

[Ping!]

[Host is going to refuse?]

Hmmm.

I looked at Zien, who was waiting for my shock.

"Your information is useless to me."

"What?"

I reached into my pocket, pulled out the Imperial letter I had opened earlier, and tossed it onto the table between us.

Zien’s little hands reached for the letter as he scanned the Imperial seal and the contents, his eyes widening. "Ah-"

"However," My lips curved upwards, "I’ll accept the deal since you shared the secret that could have you killed to earn my trust."

Zien’s composure finally broke. The cold, hollow shell of the Necromancer cracked, revealing a desperate eleven-year-old underneath. "Really? You’ll adopt Lily?"

"Yes. I’ll adopt Lily."

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." Zien bowed his head so low it nearly hit his knees.

"You better not turn out useless, My Shadow Knight. I don’t like useless things."

"I won’t disappoint you, My Liege."

[Ping!]

[Zien’s Loyalty : 10]

[10000 Trade Points Awarded!]

"Good."