A Contract Marriage with My Child’s Father - Chapter 81

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 81

The past three years.

A period when monster waves occurred most frequently and violently in the Empire’s history.

Most citizens of the Empire witnessed the devastation but failed to recognize the changes in the monsters.

They simply believed the heavens were angry and the beasts had gone mad, trembling only in vague terror.

But Cain, who had faced monsters his entire life, noticed immediately.

That these creatures were by no means ordinary beings.

Crimson eyes gleaming with madness. Physical abilities far surpassing existing ones. Behavior patterns of rampaging due to inability to control their power.

A clear sense of alienation could be felt from them.

Sudden changes always have reasons.

Cain immediately reported this fact to the Emperor and had been conducting secret investigations.

Ernst’s mission was also an extension of this.

Upon hearing news that the Vice-Captain had finally returned, Cain immediately summoned him to his study.

A classified mission known only to a select few within the knight order. It was time to confirm the results.

“I greet Your Grace the Count.”

“Skip the pleasantries. The report comes first.”

“Yes.”

Ernst immediately got to the point as if he had been waiting.

The severity of the situation could be gauged from the fact that even the faint smile he habitually wore had disappeared from his face.

“During the last mission period, I confirmed a total of five dangerous regions.”

The period when the endlessly pouring monster waves had subsided like a lie.

Finding this eerie silence suspicious, Cain had ordered Ernst to be dispatched to find the cause.

“Fortunately, no more mutant specimens were visible in most dangerous regions. Unlike before when their numbers increased explosively, it seemed new specimens themselves were no longer being born.”

It was as expected.

They had suddenly surged one day, then stopped in an instant as if someone had flipped a switch.

Thus Cain and the Emperor speculated as follows.

That a special factor causing mutations had occurred and then disappeared after three years.

So what they needed to find out was the identity of that very factor.

“I captured and examined remaining mutant specimens, but couldn’t obtain any significant information. However…”

Ernst twisted his lips into a smile before adding in a cold tone.

“I discovered artificial traces in the depths of the Black Forest.”

“…Ha.”

When the most feared answer finally came back, Cain unconsciously let out a dry laugh.

The Black Forest.

The dangerous region closest to the capital, and the epicenter from which particularly strong and bizarre mutant monsters had poured forth.

Of all places, artificial traces had been discovered there.

“Is there any possibility they were traces of monster hunters?”

“None. Though we couldn’t catch their trail, the traces left behind were clearly from organized movement.”

A deep shadow fell across Cain’s face.

At the same time, classified information the Emperor had shared flashed through his mind.

The statement that the power of mutant monsters differed from existing magic and was rather similar to the unique energy and properties of dragon blood.

Which meant…

“You’re saying someone may have intentionally caused mutations in the monsters.”

And coincidentally, in a direction similar to dragon blood.

“Yes. That possibility is currently the highest.”

Many people took Ernst lightly because he was always smiling, but he was a very cautious person.

If Ernst spoke with such strong conviction, it was likely to be true.

Cain fell into contemplative silence.

Who could have done such a thing?

No, more than that.

For what purpose?

Countless people had lost their lives during the three years of monster waves.

The dead were not the only victims.

Just recently, the parents of the Tommy brothers he had encountered in the town square were such a case.

But if this was not a simple disaster, but a tragedy someone had intentionally caused…

“Keep this matter strictly confidential.”

“I will bear it in mind.”

If this fact became known, the entire Empire would fall into uncontrollable chaos.

Though the reason was unclear, the generation of mutant monsters had currently stopped.

So they had to track them secretly, without letting them notice.

Before such an incident could happen again.

“I will discuss this matter directly with His Majesty. You’ve done well. And.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Now it was time to move on to a different topic.

Specifically, the story about the candidate for sainthood.

* * *

Ernst, the current Vice-Captain of the Silver Dragon Knights.

Due to his decadent appearance that seemed far from abstinence, people could hardly imagine it, but he was actually a holy knight.

Though he had been excommunicated.

Ernst was originally the son of a prostitute of lowly status, but thanks to being born with strong holy power, he was taken in by the Temple and became a holy knight.

But as the other clerics said, could base bloodlines truly never become servants who genuinely serve God?

Ernst became embroiled in a sordid scandal and was excommunicated from the Temple.

It was useless to claim it was false accusations.

Before he knew it, he had become a turncoat who betrayed God’s will.

The clerics condemned Ernst and tried to eliminate him.

If not for his strong martial prowess and his lord Cain Ashern whom he met during his time as a fugitive, he would have already disappeared as dew on the execution ground.

Though he had managed to preserve his life, no one now regarded Ernst as a noble holy knight.

But paradoxically, Ernst was still more devout than anyone else.

After all, his faith had never been directed toward the Temple to begin with.

Therefore, from the moment he received the letter from Cain, he had been eagerly anticipating only this moment.

‘A candidate for sainthood at the manor!’

Though Cain called her a candidate, it was practically as good as confirmed.

Because Cain Ashern possessed dragon blood.

The only being who could visually detect that person’s holy power.

The origin of this ability traced back to the founding legend of the Ashern family.

Long, long ago, the dragon that ruled the Northern Mountains began suffering from madness and started destroying all things.

A calamity caused by an absolute being that human strength could never dare oppose.

The Emperor assembled a subjugation force to somehow stop the dragon.

However, the one who stopped the dragon was neither a hero nor a member of the subjugation force.

It was a Holy Maiden who appeared one day.

She healed the dragon’s madness with holy power and quelled its rampage.

Moved by this salvation, the dragon fell in love with the Holy Maiden and vowed protection instead of destruction to atone for its transgressions.

The child born between the two became the first head of the Ashern family.

Perhaps due to the memories carved into that bloodline.

The descendants of Ashern instinctively reacted sensitively to holy power.

This was an ability that not even the highest priests of the Temple possessed.

‘If my lord considers her a candidate for sainthood, there’s a high possibility she’s a true Holy Maiden.’

It was the position of Holy Maiden that had been vacant for the past 23 years.

‘If a Holy Maiden has truly appeared…’

The appearance of a Holy Maiden at this time when the Temple’s corruption and debauchery had reached its peak was truly divine blessing.

‘God has not yet abandoned the Empire.’

Though he may have been excommunicated, Ernst, still a faithful apostle, quietly made the sign of the cross and offered a prayer of gratitude.

He waited in a secret reception room prepared away from others’ eyes, his hands clasped together, stiff with tension.

Creak.

Finally the door opened and a woman appeared beside Cain.

Abundant pink hair that fell to her waist.

Flawlessly clear skin and kind eyes.

Ernst’s eyes, which had always been languidly subdued, shook greatly at the sacred aura as if an angel had descended.

‘This must be her.’

He felt it immediately.

She was undoubtedly the Holy Maiden the Temple had been searching for so desperately.

“Hello, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Viola.”

The woman carefully offered her greeting.

“I am Ernst. It’s an honor to meet the Holy Maiden… candidate.”

Each of his movements was imbued with refined courtesy and deep faith.

Ernst suppressed his emotion as he knelt and carefully took her hand.

It was the moment he was about to kiss the back of her hand as courtesy toward the most noble being.

Tap.

Suddenly Cain’s hand grabbed Ernst’s shoulder to stop him.

“Let go of her hand and talk. The candidate for sainthood is someone else.”

“…Pardon?”

A bewildered expression rarely appeared on Ernst’s face, which usually wore a faint smile like a mask.

If not this person, then who on earth…

Viola, whose hand was being held, scratched her cheek as if troubled.

“Ah, yes. It’s not me…!”

She hurriedly turned around and called to someone in a gentle voice.

“Come on, Melody. You need to say hello.”

Then something rustled behind the full skirt of Viola’s dress.

Peek.

A small head that looked exactly like the woman appeared.

“Woo.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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