Five days after the armory incident, I was summoned to the Marquis's office.
"You called for me?"
The Marquis, turning from the window, looked exhausted.
"Good to see you."
His smile carried a bitter edge.
"Thanks to you, we uncovered the corruption. I called you to explain how it's been handled."
"Yes."
"You were right. It wasn't just the first armory—issues riddled the second, third, food stores, and general warehouses too."
"I see."
"The number of involved parties is more than I can count on both hands. I could overlook soldiers or servants I don't know, but people who served me for over a decade being involved… it still stings."
His face was shadowed with gloom.
"Still, you rooted out the culprits."
"The armory keeper and inspector spilled everything, almost miraculously."
That was my poison—well, truth serum—at work.
"They answered every question and volunteered details I didn't ask for. It made the investigation almost too easy."
That's the truth serum's effect. It works better under stress, and my pressure ensured their tongues loosened.
"And… they died in their cells that night."
"…"
I wasn't surprised, since I caused it, but I feigned slight shock.
"We still don't know how they died. They scratched the cell walls so hard their nails came off. The marks remain."
"I don't know the details, but if they suffered, good. They treated the people and soldiers like commodities. They deserve worse."
I'd laced them with Frog Flame Poison, encased in inner energy to delay its effect. They burned in agony, unaware, until death.
"Hm, did you… no, never mind."
The Marquis seemed to want to say something, his mouth twitching.
"As you said, everyone involved, regardless of status, will face severe punishment."
"As they should."
"Sigh… This taught me a lot."
He inhaled deeply, then exhaled a heavy sigh.
"Early in my time as Marquis, the previous king publicly reprimanded me in front of nobles. It was painful and humiliating. But five days ago, your rebuke hurt and shamed me more."
"…"
"Not one of your points could I refute. No excuses. You spoke the truth and prepared countermeasures. I was so pathetic I couldn't sleep."
I'd heard he hadn't slept for days, personally handling the aftermath.
"I'm sorry for showing you such a disgraceful father, Yuren."
"No. I was a troublemaker until recently. Everyone makes mistakes. Just don't repeat them."
"Hah, I can't keep up with you anymore."
He shook off the gloom with a sigh and smiled.
"You're right. I won't repeat this mistake. Thank you for waking me up."
"No problem."
"You must be busy preparing for the campaign. Go on."
"Yes."
Our eyes met briefly before I left his office. Back in my room, Peru was waiting.
"Young Master, they're here."
He placed three vials on the table.
"These are them?"
"Yes. Poison from the Iron Armor Mushroom flower."
I'd asked Peru for this neurotoxin, which paralyzes breathing muscles, like pufferfish poison. I figured sea monsters, unused to land breathing, would be vulnerable.
"Thanks. Good work."
"No big deal. But have you heard the news?"
"What news? Be specific."
"Your popularity is skyrocketing."
"Popularity?"
Peru nodded, eyes gleaming.
"While getting the poison, I heard people everywhere talking about you."
"Me? The rumor's spread already?"
"Yes! With so many witnesses, it's beyond spread. They knew the day after the incident."
I understood what he meant.
"Yuren Rox, who single-handedly exposed the Marquisate's hidden corruption and spent his own money on equipment for soldiers, is the talk of the town!"
"Ugh, come on…"
"Your words about prioritizing soldiers over anyone else are toasted in every tavern."
"Nonsense."
"I'm serious! I saw it in the territory."
Frustrated that I didn't believe him, Peru thumped his chest.
"Your popularity is no joke. If someone called you a wastrel now, they'd get beaten."
"Really? My wastrel reputation was so strong, how could it change so fast?"
"I swear. How many nobles actually care about soldiers or citizens? You exposed corruption for them, bought armor and shields with your own money. They can't help but love you. Soldiers and their families are all citizens."
It was hard to believe, but Peru's earnest expression convinced me.
"Alright, thanks for telling me."
"No problem. Hearing your praise makes me proud. Soon, the whole kingdom will know."
Peru beamed, his smile unwavering.
"Time to train. I'll head out."
"You're getting good at reading the room."
"Hehe, I'll go."
After Peru left, I sat on the floor, holding the poison vials.
"Not bad."
I'd acted out of anger, but knowing the people appreciated it brought a natural smile.
After calming my mind with meditation, I downed the poison in one gulp.
[Consumed Iron Armor Mushroom Flower Poison.]
[Ten Thousand Poison Immunity Technique absorbs the poison.]
[Ten Thousand Poison Immunity Technique proficiency increased.]
[Sea Death Spear (Neurotoxin) unlocked.]
[Immunity to All Poisons negates the pain and symptoms.]
I braced for pain, but Immunity to All Poisons left only a slight warmth in my stomach.
Running the Ten Thousand Poison Immunity Technique, I converted the poison to inner energy effortlessly, with no pain to distract me.
"Immunity to All Poisons is amazing."
Unlike before, when poison brought agony and headaches, this was refreshing.
Let's check the new poison.
[Sea Death Spear (Neurotoxin)]
Named for a legendary sea creature-killing spear, even a trace can kill a human without leaving evidence. Larger doses cause instant, painless death.
A perfect assassination poison, adjustable for slow or instant kills.
Reading it gave me chills at my own power.
"Wait, this isn't right."
I'd eaten the mushroom poison to unlock a lower-tier poison, but it skipped to a mid-tier one—Sea Death Spear.
"Not bad, but why?"
The only reason I could think of was the Ten Thousand Poison Immunity Technique reaching mid-tier. If higher proficiency unlocks higher-tier poisons easier, then…
"Peru!"
"Yes!"
Peru rushed in.
"Open your pouch."
"What?"
He opened his magic pouch without question.
"Whoa! What's this?"
I poured gold coins into it.
"Buy more poison."
"More? This much?"
"Yeah."
Money's no issue, and with Immunity to All Poisons, absorbing poison is like drinking water.
I'd aim for Ten Thousand Poison Immunity Technique's fifth star before the campaign.
"Sigh…"
"Young Master."
It took too long to gather poisons, and I didn't reach the fifth star. As I sighed in disappointment, Peru called out.
"What?"
"Don't we look too shabby?"
I glanced around. To my left and right, silver armor gleamed—knights brought by Colin and Laon.
We stood in the first training ground for the campaign ceremony.
"It's such a contrast. Are we okay?"
Among Colin and Laon's knights were wizards and veteran mercenaries. I only had Peru, Arin, and Clyde.
The comparison was inevitable.
"Why'd you refuse knights who offered to help?"
Peru's claim about my popularity was true—several knights and mercenaries offered aid, but I declined. I'd already decided how to fight and didn't need others.
"Brother!"
Laon, on my right, met my eyes and bowed with a smile despite the crowd.
"Pfft."
I glanced at Colin on my left. He smirked mockingly at me and my group.
"He didn't get enough of a beating."
I slipped behind Colin quietly.
Smack!
"Urgh! Who's the bastard?!"
I slapped the back of his head.
"Me, you punk!"
"Grr!"
Colin gritted his teeth.
"Say it."
"What?"
"This won't do. After the campaign, we'll have another round. No mercy for crying."
"Gr… Great Brother."
"Frail little brother, don't cry when a fish slaps you."
I wanted to tease more, but the Marquis appeared, so I returned to my spot.
"I won't speak long."
The Marquis's low voice echoed through the training ground as he took the stage.
"I'll be in the most dangerous places, at the forefront. I'll be with you wherever you are. Fight with me to protect our land!"
"Wooo!"
"Yaaah!"
"Long live Marquis Wellington!"
"Rox forever!"
The soldiers roared at his words.
"'Let's fight,' not 'fight.' Nice."
It was a short but passionate speech, promising to lead from the front.
"Young Master, it's our turn."
"Right."
After the speech, we headed to our assigned locations. The soldiers were split equally among the three heir candidates, so I led mine to my destination.
Two days later, I reached my assigned defense point—a seawall by the coast. Below, a few Vollarks roamed.
"Shooting arrows from here makes defense easy, right?"
"Not quite, Young Master," said Hans, the wall's manager.
"In a few days, the sea will be swarming with Vollarks. They'll overwhelm the wall and gate. It'll be a tough fight."
"Really?"
"Yes. So… are more reinforcements coming?"
Hans looked at me with desperate eyes.
"Reinforcements?"
"Vollarks have shields, so arrows don't stop them from reaching the gate. We need to go out and fight to protect the wall, but five knights won't cut it."
"Not five. This guy's the Marquis's butler to watch me, and this is my butler."
"What? Only three knights?"
Hans stared, dumbfounded.
"Three or not, only one will fight, so don't worry."
"Me? Alone?" Clyde, gawking below, rushed to me in panic.
"Yeah, you."
"What are you saying? How can I…"
Grinning, I patted his armor.
"You've got latent potential. I'll bring it out."
It was time to awaken the Monster Slayer, the Berserker.