Kashchey stayed for a few days at the Rostov estate.
The head of the Rostov family had arranged for the duke to reside in the finest guest chamber, newly refurbished for the occasion.
Though Kashchey felt some discomfort at using something that belonged to "others," it was not unbearable. After all, just as people reserve their true likes and dislikes only for those closest to them, while maintaining a veneer of courtesy toward strangers, so too did he.
His relationship with the Rostov patriarch was not nearly as close as the bond he shared with Kjera.
Of course, with his position, if he were to demand the construction of an entirely new villa, Rostov would undoubtedly oblige. But that would be far too troublesome.
He was only staying for a few days—there was no need.
---
Chernobog.
In a place known as Azazel, a hidden underground clinic, several uninvited guests appeared.
One among them did not act rashly. He simply reclined lazily on a tattered sofa, calmly surveying his surroundings.
The others, cloaked in black robes, stood silently around him, like watchful sentinels.
Yet their presence alone was enough to make the current master of Azazel—a Liberi infected, revered as a living legend among the underground infected community of Ursus, and who now called himself Hellagur—tense as if facing a mortal threat.
The staff in that man's hand, his appearance, his very presence… all left no room for doubt in Hellagur's mind about who sat before him.
The Eternal Duke of Ursus—Kashchey.
His hand moved instinctively toward the hilt of his blade, though just as quickly he let it fall away.
"General," the man greeted with a faint smile, "it has been a long time."
"…I am no longer a general. Now, I am nothing more than a nameless infected."
"Son, you made your name known in the Four Emperors War. In your prime, your fame spread across the Tenth Ursan-Kazim War. And in the battles that followed, you earned victory after victory. A soldier of Ursus such as yourself… could never be called nameless."
Kashchey's gaze lingered on the elderly Liberi before him.
Somewhere along the line, this man had lost all hope in the Empire of Ursus.
Time… how terrifying it is.
The first time Kashchey had laid eyes upon him, he had been a fresh recruit, swearing an oath beneath the Ursus banner.
Now, standing before him was a scarred veteran, a retired general weighed down by years of war—reduced even further by the curse of infection.
"There is no need to guard yourself so tightly, General."
Kashchey motioned for the Snakescale attendants at his side to step back, then strode forward with ease until he stood directly before Hellagur.
The space between them was no more than two meters.
Two meters—well within Hellagur's striking range.
Close enough to sever his head in an instant.
But Hellagur still did not move.
Not even his hand twitched.
He wasn't sure what Kashchey had come here for, but if the Duke truly intended to harm Azazel, then slaying him here would mean nothing.
Because Kashchey could never truly be killed.
Better to wait, to watch, to see what his real purpose was.
---
"Didn't strike… what a pity."
Kashchey murmured in his heart.
Had the old general drawn his blade, Kashchey would not have minded turning him into a light snack.
The will and instinct of a battle-hardened soldier—even if it couldn't compare to the shards of a Sarkaz Diablo—would still make for a decent bite.
But Hellagur never struck.
So be it.
If he were to indulge his instincts, cutting down everything in his path, all the image and reputation he had so painstakingly cultivated within Ursus would be ruined in an instant.
And he himself would fall back into that primal, ignorant state of chaos.
"The difference between civilization and savagery… is the ability to control instinct."
Kashchey would not forget—many within Ursus were waiting for him to make that one mistake.
Interests, after all, were what truly moved people.
Faith and gratitude? In the face of profit, such things weighed less than dust.
And dividing up Kashchey's share of the cake… oh, the pieces would be far too tempting.
---
"Truth is, you needn't worry," Kashchey said at last, his tone casual. "I have little interest in your Azazel. I merely want to know…"
He shifted his staff to his left hand and laid his right hand upon Hellagur's shoulder.
Every muscle in Hellagur's body tensed, wound tight as a drawn bowstring.
It felt as if a venomous serpent had coiled itself upon his shoulder, ready to sink its fangs into him at any second.
'If I sense even the slightest wrongness… I'll take this Kashchey's head.'
As a former Ursus general, Hellagur knew all too well of the Duke's parasitic abilities.
"There's no need to be so tense, General. I merely wish to confirm that you're telling the truth."
Kashchey gestured toward the door of the clinic.
Outside, one of his retainers—hidden in a black robe—was crouched down, playing with a group of infected children.
'He's threatening me!'
Hellagur's chest tightened. For the sake of the children's safety, he had no choice but to comply.
Kashchey's voice grew cold.
"Tell me… have those who call themselves Reunion approached you recently?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Did they ask you to join them?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Did they claim that next year—or perhaps the year after—they will stage something grand, to proclaim the infected's place in the world?"
"Yes, my lord."
"And did you agree to them?"
"No, my lord."
Kashchey withdrew his hand.
Hellagur is not lying.
He straightened his attire, then signaled to the Snakescale to gather the one playing outside with the children. As they regrouped, Kashchey strode toward the door.
"General, for the sake of the countless merits you once earned for Ursus, I'll offer you a piece of advice. Of course, you may choose to ignore it."
"I am listening, esteemed Duke Kashchey."
"Chernobog will soon fall into chaos, stirred up by those little ones who call themselves Reunion. You would do well to move your clinic elsewhere—at once."
"..."
Hellagur remained silent, watching as Kashchey and his Snakescale disappeared into the distance.
One of the Snakescale even turned back to wave at the infected children before leaving.
When he was certain Kashchey would not return, Hellagur noticed that the children were carrying bundles in their hands.
In an instant, he realized those parcels had been left behind by Kashchey.
He rushed over, snatched the packages from the children, and hurled them far away.
But… nothing happened.
"Grandpa Hellagur, those gifts were from the big brother in black clothes just now. Why did you make us throw them away?"
"..."
Hellagur had no idea what Kashchey was planning.
He had thought those bundles contained Originium bombs powerful enough to destroy Azazel.
After some hesitation, he carefully opened them one by one—only to discover that they were filled with doses of Originium suppressant.
Dozens of parcels, all packed with suppressants.
Even the wrapping bore special Originium-crafted wards to prevent shock or damage.
"..."
Hellagur suddenly recalled the tales he had once heard in his childhood about Kashchey—stories he had long since dismissed as nonsense after growing up.
"Kashchey is the Eternal Duke of Ursus. He is like the sun, warming all people as best he can."
"He does not reject those who are Infected, he does not scorn those who are commoners, and he does not grant privilege to those who are nobles."
"Praise be to Duke Kashchey."
That was a bedtime story his mother used to tell him.
---
"Ichigou, why did you bother playing with those kids? Didn't Lord Kashchey say we only needed to deliver the parcels?"
"Nigou I was infected as a child. If it weren't for Lord Kashchey's favor, I'd probably have been sent to the mines… maybe it just brought back old memories."
"...Ichigou, then tell me—why would Lord Kashchey give such precious medicine to those children? It's not like they can serve him. Someday, they might even forget his kindness."
"Lord Kashchey must have his reasons. For us subordinates, it's enough to obey his orders faithfully."
"…I suppose so."
---
'Doing a bit of good now and then… it feels like this hypocritical heart of mine has finally been satisfied.'