(Benedict’s POV)
After two years, Benedict found himself in a lavish room within the confines of the church. Seated on an ornate sofa, he shared the space with another man, seemingly of the same age. Both were clad in opulent priestly attire. Before them rested a tea set, and they engaged in the quiet pleasure of sipping tea, the atmosphere enriched by the sacred surroundings of the church.
"So, how's the hunt going?" inquired the other man.
"We acted swiftly when Ethan and Malachi, exposed as demon lineage. We formed an alliance, attacked the Marquess's household, and eliminated them along with their network of nobles and other connections. Still, the network is vast; it took a year to track and eliminate the escapees. Many remain at large, and the hunt continues on a smaller scale."
"Hmm, good work."
"Nah, it's just the Marquess's misfortune. His family grew too large for him to manage and conceal. Many are frustrated—demons are always thirsty for power. The younger ones wouldn't settle for an old man at the helm. Unable to handle them all, the Marquess should've entrusted a capable individual to manage the family. However, he clung to his seat, allowing the lower members to act recklessly. Even without this incident, another would have occurred eventually. Malachi and Ethan, unable to control the demonic aura, had their minds corrupted, acting without reason and even destroying an entire village. If the Marquess had known, he would have dealt with them immediately, but they hid it from him."
"The political chaos has been quelled. The emperor appointed a capable count to temporarily oversee the Marquess's territory, calming the unrest. If all goes well, he might be promoted as the new Marquess."
"Hmm, how's Kevin doing?"
"Who knows? Haven't heard from him since I left the baronet. Before I left, I handed him a bunch of study material, my reports, and experiences. It still makes me laugh remembering the cursing expression on his face."
The man chuckles, "I heard you got a grand farewell from the village."
"Yeah, that girl even opened her castle for the banquet, a first. Well, it's not as luxurious as others, though."
Knock, knock.
"Come in."
A priest entered, opening the door, holding a letter. "Sir, a letter has arrived for you."
Benedict received the documents. "You may leave."
He opened the documents and began to read through them.
Copyright © [2023] [The Rainy Imp]. All rights reserved.
*****
Report on RavenCrest:
The RavenCrests, emerging 300 years ago with Aldric RavenCrest, revealing an unidentified but presumably strong lineage. Regrettably, his descendants have become degenerate tyrants.
Sera RavenCrest, the current head, became the wife of the 5th son of the previous baron after being forced through blackmail. Enduring a year of abuse, she gave birth to a child. However, Sera, far from ordinary, sought help from Priest Benedict. Through her own determination, she learned to read and write, gathering evidence of RavenCrest's wrongdoing. She then sent the evidence to Viscountess Ravenna.
After that, she requested a visit to her home, plunging her into despair. This feeling was further amplified due to a lack of response from the Viscountess, a result of her long-term preparations. Loosing all hope, she continued to endure her abuse, until the birth of her second daughter. But she is a person with a strong character and a calculative mind, traits likely developed due to her challenging circumstances. Having lost her family and endured years of physical, sexual, and mental abuse, coupled with the looming danger to her children, she took a drastic step. On the night of her child's birth, she poisoned the entire RavenCrest family to reduce suspicion towards herself. Unfortunately, I was unable to obtain any proof for these statements.
She confessed her actions to me, a priest, in gratitude for saving her children. I propose we refrain from punishment, as church involvement in politics is inappropriate. Her deeds have done considerable good for society.
Later, due to Viscountess Ravenna's actions, significant changes occurred in the county. Sera, persuaded by Countess Ravenna, who had been promoted to a countess for her accomplishments, reluctantly became the new baroness.
Once in office, Sera distinguished herself by avoiding debauchery and undertaking numerous positive initiatives for both the people and the land. This is attested by the residents of the baronet and the surrounding nobles. The baronet is already on its way to becoming a prosperous land under her administration.
A year and a half ago, new development projects opened the village to outsiders, including numerous merchants. Ethan and Malachi, grandsons of the Marquess, were among them. Influenced by their demonic bloodline and corrupted by black magic, they began acting recklessly and wiped out a village in Baron Rolland's territory. This incident was brought to the church's attention through an anonymous report.
Due to their attempt to summon a demon using children as sacrifices, which was foiled, we uncovered and addressed the Marquess and several other nobles who were descendants of demons and practitioners of black magic.
"Interestingly, during the incident, the children of the Baroness were unaffected by the blood primacy magic, suggesting a remarkably strong lineage. Initially, I speculated that the ancestral bloodline of Aldric RavenCrest might be associated with someone of very high status. However, considering Sera RavenCrest’s noble character, it's plausible that she could have such an ancestor.
As a result of my inquiry, Sera RavenCrest revealed that she is a magic user. However, her abilities are hampered by a damaged artifact she inherited. In subsequent months, Vina RavenCrest was also assessed for her magical capabilities by the tower. As anticipated, she demonstrated magical aptitude but received a triangular, broken sculpture. This result reinforces my earlier speculation that it might be Sera’s bloodline that countered the blood primacy magic of the demon knight. Their lineage is potent, possibly of a hero or maybe a saint. However, their inheritance is impaired due to the broken item. Looking at the item, it can be determined that it is not a battle related item"
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
I strongly recommend that we bring in the baroness’s children for training as magicians.
"The assessment had also yielded other surprises, revealing a few children with potent magic and decent artifacts. If trained adequately, they might become highly capable individuals in the future."
After closely observing Sera and her children for the past two years to determine if they have demonic bloodlines, I found no abnormal behaviors or drawbacks typical of such lineages. There are also no traces of black magic practices according to the villagers, and the village has not experienced any abnormal changes such as diseases, deaths, or shifts in mental alignments. In fact, this is the most positive and peaceful village I have encountered; all villagers are diligently working towards a bright future.
Based on my stay and inquiries from the people, I can conclude that Sera RavenCrest exhibits a noble character, and her actions and results are inconsistent with those of someone corrupted by black magic or the miasma of the abyss. The RavenCrests' error has brought significant positive changes to the baronet, county, and marquisate.
In conclusion, my report states that the current RavenCrest Household and the baronet are not influenced by any black magic practices or demonic cults. I estimate that this should hold true for at least the next two or three decades.
Signed by Kevin L. GleamLight.
Copyright © [2023] [The Rainy Imp]. All rights reserved.
*****
Benedict folded the letter.
“What is it?”
Instead of answering, Benedict passed the letter to him.
After going through the letter, the man remarked, “Is this his graduation assignment?”
“Yes, do you think we should let the Baroness's children enter the church?”
“Nah, it's just a waste of time. If it's an artifact sealed due to the user's lack of potential, we might still be able to do something to improve the purity of their bloodline. But with the broken artifact, no matter how great their ancestor, their fate is sealed. Their growth is greatly suppressed. Unless a miracle happens, it's not possible. The only way I can think they might be useful is to let their children be taken in as concubines to someone with a high purity bloodline and capabilities, and continue the same for the next few generations, slowly giving birth to children whose potential could finally break free from the bindings of the broken artifact.”
“Hey, that's too long and cruel.”
“Yes, but it's very effective. You know the Saintess of the Lightning Church, who recently became popular? Her potential was awakened through the same process. All her matriarchal line were made concubines for many generations. Only now has someone with enough bloodline purity and capability to break free from their broken artifact been born. And she turned out to be quite powerful. Not to mention, it's not like we are going to make them suffer. We will be arranging a good life of luxury for them and their descendants.”
“Then what do you think? Will you let Sera become Kevin’s concubine?”
“No. Those children are barely acceptable after a few years if they can hide their identity and sever their relation to their mother. But she is no good.”
“You…”
“What is there to hide? If someone like her entered the family, people will mock us. You know her story; no one knows with how many she had slept with.”
“Hey, it was not her fault.”
“True, but society doesn't care. And no one from prestigious families will accept her or her children as concubines or wives, at least not until their next generation. Unless it is someone who would like to go after their current baron status.”
Benedict exhaled, “Fine, leave it.”
The other person is surprised by Benedict’s reaction, “You seem to have taken quite a liking to them.”
“Yeah, her words on our first meeting left a deep impression on me. If I had a grandson, I would have kicked his ass to marry her. Let those who have a problem with it go to hell.”
“Hahahaha… She must be very impressive for you to say so much. But let's leave it at that. I don’t think Kevin will like to marry her either.”
“Why?”
“Well, ask him when he returns.”
“But we should recruit the other kids Kevin mentioned.”
“Okay.”
After a moment of silence, “so? Did he pass your tests?”
“Honestly, I did not expect him to ask the girl directly if she had poisoned her family.” Benedict shook his head. “But yes, he has passed.”
“Top in the class, investigating noble households, fighting a demon knight, rescuing children from an evil cult, uncovering the hiding demons' kin in the marquisate even before graduation. Not too bad. I can give him a pass mark,” said with a smug expression.
“Tch, what a hypocrite you are. Your smug expression reveals how joyful you are internally,” Benedict clicked his tongue.
“But I should say, he did a good job. As expected of your great-grandson. The next heir to the GleamLight family.”
*****
After one month, the Raven’s Crest village had a complete sewage system, making it much more hygienic and cleaner. Inside the church, Jonas and Kevin were packing Kevin's luggage.
“So, you're really going.”
“Yes. My probation period is complete, and I received orders from the cathedral to return. A new priest has also arrived.”
“Are you not going to ask Sera to marry you?”
“Huh? Why would I?”
“Well, you have been showing great interest in her since the time you arrived in the village. You're quite friendly with her, and the kids like you too.”
“I already said that it is not like that.” Kevin rolled his eyes. “Moreover, I like beautiful and sexy girls. I intend to make a harem for myself.”
Jonas was dumbstruck. “But, isn't Sera beautiful?”
“She is. For a village, that is. If you go outside, you will find many who are incomparably more beautiful than her.”
“But…”
Kevin interjected before Jonas could say anything. “I know what you want to say, that her character is great, and she is a good woman.”
“Yes.”
“I think she is not the type that will let her man have multiple partners. I also don't think she likes me in that way. Though it is only my intuition after observing many women that is telling this.” Kevin answered Jonas as he finished packing his bags.
Outside the church, a carriage was waiting for him along with large groups of people. In the morning, the sun was covered by a large cloud, making the environment very pleasant.
The children who came to bid farewell approached Kevin as he came out of the church.
“Teacher, we have a gift for you,” the children handed him a gift wrapped in cloth, which he accepted.
“Thank you. Take care.”
Then he approached Sera and her kids who were standing near the carriage.
“Madam Sera, thank you for everything.”
“No, it should be us thanking you.”
“I had previously suggested to the church to recruit Vina and Tia to take them in for training in magic.”
“The other kids are accepted and soon someone will come to bring them to the capital. But I did not get any reply regarding vina and tia. They were probably rejected.”
“But you should at least let them join one of the magic schools. With your status as a baroness, you are only living a modest life. You should be able to bear the expenses with some inconveniences. It will definitely help them in their future.”
‘There is no way I am letting my kids outside the village,’ Sera thought to herself.
“Let me consider it,” she replied.
“Okay.”
“Take care, Vina, Tia.”
“Yes. You too, teacher.”
Kevin boarded the carriage and waved goodbye as he rode away.
(End of Kevin’s POV)
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Author’s Note:
This Version of the novel is a softcore version. If you want to read the kinky stuff which I removed, you can try to read the one I uploaded with the same novel name.
Copyright © [2023] [The Rainy Imp]. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, contact the publisher at [[email protected]].