Inn Overlord: Reincarnated with Enhancement Magic, Now Worshipped as a Divine Messenger! - Chapter 45

(From Margrave of Burlington’s Perspective)

“Now, I shall lead the army and return the small city of Barmuller to our family’s control.”

My eldest son Greg gave his greeting and left some time ago. A fast message finally arrived from Barmuller, and during the night, about 8,000 soldiers marched toward the small city. They should arrive sometime between tomorrow morning and noon.

Thinking we are reinforcements, they will probably let our private soldiers enter the city without caution. Then we will attack from the inside. After that, we can either open the gates and join with the Empire to trap the Kingdom’s infantry and magic troops, or we can hold all of Barmuller hostage. I leave those choices to Greg’s judgment on the battlefield.

As the Margrave, I was in the office of the Burlington estate, passed down through generations. It was already late at night. I would go to sleep now, and by the time I woke up, everything would be over.

Just imagining it made me smile. To ensure a good sleep, I prepared two wine glasses made of crystal glass and poured bl00d-red wine into them.

One was for myself. The other was for Slay, who supported this wonderful plan.

Slay had long white cloth wrapped around his head like bandages and wore twin swords on both sides of his waist. He looked like he was in his early twenties.

I tried to hand him a glass, but Slay refused.

“I’m sorry. Because of my work, I avoid drinking.”

Normally, I wouldn’t allow someone to refuse wine I had poured, but Slay was not my servant. Even so, getting drunk and failing in his work would be unacceptable—but by now, Slay’s part should be mostly done.

Slay’s job was to watch over this wonderful plan to make sure it ran smoothly, and also to serve as my bodyguard.

Yes, I was not the one who made this plan. It was that person, someone with great influence within the Kingdom of Schmar.

—That person who hides a deep hatred toward King Ingobell…

I gulped down the wine in my glass. The rich arOrma and deep bitterness filled my mouth.

“How is the taste?”

“Truly delicious.”

I placed the glass I had prepared for Slay on the desk and began talking about the wine’s story.

“This wine was made during the age of Sonia, the last of the six Wild Heroes—originally called the 12 Brave Heroes, now divided into six True Heroes and six Wild Heroes.”

“Oh, that’s from a very old time.”

“People from the Holy Nation of Harmonia would want this wine so badly they’d reach out with both hands for it.”

I held the wine up to the candlelight to check its color, then asked Slay again.

“Slay, you are interested in food, right?”

“Yes… but I think I will enjoy it after this job is done.”

“Gahaha! Then tomorrow, let’s drink together!”

“Yes. I’m looking forward to it…”

Saying that, Slay left the office. A pleasant sleepiness came over me.

—When I wake up tomorrow…

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(From Jeanne’s Perspective)

We passed straight through the battlefield and entered the Burlington estate grounds. Thanks to Albert and Setsuna, who had visited this place before, getting in was easy.

However, just before we entered, the entire estate was covered in an evil magical power.

I stopped Albert and Setsuna and told them not to touch it, but the magical power disappeared right after. The two looked at me with confused faces. What was that magic, I wonder?

—Could it be that we were lured into the estate?

We would avoid battle as much as possible and quickly capture the Margrave of Burlington alive. I had seen with my own eyes that about 8,000 soldiers were heading toward Barmuller. Once the Margrave’s betrayal was clear to everyone, Albert or Setsuna would present the captured Margrave. That could cause chaos inside the small city.

At worst, the 8,000 soldiers might rise up in rebellion. If that happened, I could destroy the entire army with my own hands. Of course, I would make sure no one realized I had done it.

Yes. With my wind magic, I thought I could easily wipe them all out. But the magical power I felt earlier in the estate came from someone strong enough to disrupt our plan.

—I don’t feel that magic now, but I should still be very careful…

I swallowed nervously and entered the Burlington estate. We passed by red carpets and paintings and art lined up evenly along the walls.

Breathing, equipment sounds, footsteps—my wind magic erased them all.

Using magic detection, I knew where the estate’s guards were. We avoided their sight.

I didn’t scan the whole estate to avoid being noticed by the one who had released that strong magic earlier. Instead, I limited my range to places we couldn’t see, like corners and behind doors.

Albert said:

“If we turn here, we’ll reach the Margrave’s bedroom, sister.”

Albert and Setsuna call me ‘sister.’

“Got it.”

I replied and used wind magic to check if I could hear any breathing or strange air movements around the corner.

“There are two guards. They’re guarding the door at the far end.”

“What should we do?”

“I’ll use magic detection. You two, watch the surroundings.”

“Yes!”

“Understood!”

I spread my magic along the hallway, even behind the door those guards were protecting. Then I realized:

“He’s not there…”

“Huh?”

“No one’s behind that door… Is there anywhere else he might be?”

Setsuna answered:

“The office… That’s where we met the Margrave before. Maybe he hasn’t gone to bed yet and is still there?”

Albert agreed with her.

“Then remember the path to get there. I’ll question the guards, just in case.”

“Huh?”

“Okay?”

I used wind magic to speed up and ran through the hallway.

—If that strong magic user is here, they might be using a spell to hide from my detection… But if that’s the case, I should’ve noticed it…

I stopped thinking for now and knocked out one of the two guards.

The other guard let out a surprised voice as his partner suddenly collapsed. I got behind him and tightened my arm around his neck.

“Mguh!?”

His body tensed and struggled, so I warned him.

“Don’t move. Or I’ll kill you.”

He relaxed slightly, but then started shaking.

“Where is the Margrave of Burlington?”

I loosened my grip a bit.

“T-the office—”

Once I got my answer, I tightened my arm again and made him faint. I was ready to react in case the door behind me opened, but it never did.

Just to be sure, I opened the bedroom and checked inside—no one was there.

I went back to Albert and Setsuna and gave them orders.

“The Margrave is in the office. Let’s move.”

The two nodded, and we ran again through the estate. I followed them.

—The one who released that magical power is in the office…

I quietly began to prepare for battle.