The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 360 The End of the Despicable
Just as the "admissions office" of Xuebang was in a state of panic over Prince Colin's exam paper, Eagle Rock Territory on the other side of the border was not idle either.

Two days have passed since Sir Richter's righteous triumph.

During those two chaotic days, the esteemed gentleman had completely forgotten about the "spoils" he had captured and brought back to the castle.

At this moment, he was busy calming down his angry wife who was ready to leave home at any moment, and had no time to pay attention to the dozens of women who had appeared in the dungeon.

The dungeon was cold and damp, with water droplets seeping from the walls and a musty smell. The air was filled with the stench of decay and despair.

A dozen or so lightly dressed women were locked in the same cell. They were huddled together, cold and hungry, their beautiful makeup ruined by tears of fear.

Most people were sobbing quietly, but not everyone was willing to give in to fate. For example, a red-haired girl named Lina still had a bit of vitality in her thick arms, like wild grass.

She gripped the cold iron bars and shook them violently, shouting in a hoarse voice at the drowsy guard in the corner.

"Hey! How long are you going to keep us locked up? Master Richter's anger should have subsided by now! We've already given you the money, what else do you want? That thing? Then stick it in, I'm hungry too."

The soldier on duty was awakened by the rude shouting. He spat out the grass root in his mouth with disdain, walked over lazily, leaned against the cell, and mocked.

"Be content, you witches who sold your souls to succubi. If it weren't for the master's mercy, he would have hanged you all on the city walls long ago, you deserving of hell!"

The guards' shouts frightened many girls, but Lina was not afraid at all; instead, she laughed out loud.

"Go to hell? Ha, for something like this?"

The soldier gave a cold laugh.

“Girls, this is no small matter. I think you don’t know your place in the Holy Word. My master can execute you now and no one will say anything.”

"Don't try to scare me with those things the priests have. I'd rather they shine their holy light on my old man's coffin."

Lina placed her hand on the cold railing, lowered her voice, and suddenly adopted a tone that was both alluring and incredibly clear-headed: "Sir, let me ask you this: we sisters can't even earn a few gold coins after twisting our backs all night. If we deserve to go to hell for that little bit of money, then where are those nobles who stole the peasants' land, those wealthy merchants who embezzled tens of millions of gold coins for the nobles... who drove us here? To heaven?"

The guard was taken aback by her question. He opened his mouth, but couldn't think of a rebuttal for a moment. After a while, he managed to squeeze out a sentence.

“These are two different things… If someone really did that, I believe the Holy Light would definitely punish him.”

"Then let it be so. It seems Sir Richter is a devout exception."

Lina suddenly changed the subject, her tone softening: "But... before the Holy Light shines on us, won't it shine on those who are worse first? Let's stop beating around the bush and make a deal. It's cold and damp here, the sisters need to eat, and you need money, don't you?"

"From now on, you'll take 30% of what we earn. In exchange, if the lord goes crazy again, just let us know in advance and we'll hide. Let's not make things so ugly. You'll benefit too, right?"

Upon hearing the word "money," the soldier's heart skipped a beat, causing his once-devout face to lose some of its sincerity.

He had absolutely no interest in the unwashed girl, but the mention of money did pique his interest. His captain was about to retire, and if he could get the housekeeper to smooth things over, taking a step forward might not be out of the question.

Who would want to guard a cold and damp castle dungeon?

Moreover, he felt that what this guy said wasn't entirely unreasonable. Since the Holy Light follows a first-come, first-served principle when bestowing blessings, there's no reason why it should treat everyone equally when bringing down divine punishment.

Since those truly wicked people are alive and well, praying to Saint Sis every day, and they won't die unless they mess with the wrong people... Hell doesn't have time for a lord's servant like me to worry about.

Even if he wanted to go, he might not be able to!
Moreover, and most importantly, the risk of this is extremely low.

Sir Richter had never set foot in this stinking, rotten dungeon before, and he frowned and walked away upon smelling the putrid stench.

If one day the knight lord suddenly remembered this person, he could say that these women had died of the plague and, to avoid contaminating the castle, had been taken to the outskirts for burial.

Unless His Highness the Prince goes blind one day and accidentally visits these women's tents, what could possibly happen?

But the probability of that happening is too small; even his master looks down on these ordinary women from the bottom of his heart.

This deal is a sure thing!

After a great internal struggle, the soldier finally decided to take on this job that could change his life.

However, in order to maximize his profits, he cleared his throat and resumed his soldierly demeanor.

“Thirty percent won’t do,” he said in a deep voice. “The risk is too great, and I can’t make all this money by myself… I need forty percent to make it enough to go around! And you’re not allowed to wear those sheepskin coats anymore!”

Lina raised an eyebrow and asked in return.

"No sheepskin coats allowed? Saint Sith, this is the North! Do you want us to freeze to death on the snowfields?"

"This is the bottom line!" the soldier insisted. He didn't want to lose his stable job, though it paid little, over such a small matter. "Lord Richter already knows that women in sheep's clothing are prostitutes! I can turn a blind eye, but you should at least change your appearance!"

Looking at the women in the cell with their furrowed brows, the soldier suddenly had a flash of inspiration and blurted out.

“You…you can dress up as nuns! I’ve been to the church in the city, and the nuns’ clothes are thick and black, and they’re quite warm.”

Once his imagination was unleashed, he became more and more excited as he spoke, even raising his head high.

"That way, when you're 'doing your jobs,' we can explain things to you. For example, if someone asks what you're doing, we'll say... you're nuns, 'confessing' to those lost sheep! Unlike those devils in sheep's clothing!"

Upon hearing this incredible idea, all the women in the cell fell silent.

They looked at each other, their expressions shifting from astonishment to absurdity, and finally all forming a "This works?!" look.

Lina was so surprised that she couldn't utter a word for a long time.

She looked the seemingly foolish but actually secretly passionate man up and down, and finally gave him a heartfelt thumbs up.

"Damn it, it's only the people in your castle who know how to have fun."

She seems to have spoken too soon in praising Sir Richter's decisive and efficient style.

She could almost see how thriving the nuns' confessional work would be in that bustling traveler's camp.

……

While the upper echelons of the Academy were making a huge fuss over a switched scroll, the culprit, Milos, had already fled to Eagle Rock Territory on the other side of the border like a frightened bird.

He hid in a dilapidated tent rented from a traveler's camp, a tent that never saw the sun, his heart filled with both lingering fear of being exposed and a sliver of relief.

He never imagined that the "unlucky guy" he had carefully selected would actually be a prince of the empire! He couldn't understand why that incomparably noble gentleman would be so bored as to personally participate in what he considered such a low-level apprenticeship assessment!

but--

It's pointless to think about these things now.

The only saving grace is that he is safe for the time being.

The Kingdom of Rhodes and the Academy have always been at odds. No matter how angry the sorcerer is, the Academy's law enforcement team would never dare to cross the border to arrest such an insignificant person, especially since they have no idea where they are.

As for the lord of Eagle Rock Territory, that good-for-nothing named Richter is an idiot who only recognizes noble titles, and everyone in Eagle Rock Territory knows that.

Milos decided to lie low here.

On one hand, he could discreetly gather information to see how far things would escalate. On the other hand, he also needed to wait for news from his "senior" before deciding whether to leave or quietly return to the academy; this was safer than running around aimlessly like a headless fly.

Moreover, deep down he actually wanted to go back.

Those important figures are all very busy and won't devote all their energy to him, an insignificant nobody. They'll forget about him soon enough.

To this day, Milos still believes that he did all of this for magic.

Becoming a respected sage was his lifelong dream, and money was merely a tool for him to achieve that dream, not his pursuit.

During the tedious days of waiting for news, the immense pressure almost suffocated him.

Just then, he discovered that the prostitutes who had been taken away by Sir Richter in the camp had recently returned.

Moreover, they seem to have formed some kind of "organization" and undergone a complete transformation.

They no longer wore the cheap sheepskin coats that covered up their body odor, but instead put on a full set of black nun's habit that was completely covered up, or even somewhat conservative.

Similarly, they no longer loudly solicited customers, but stood dignifiedly at the entrance of their respective tents, with a compassionate smile on their faces.

What's even more remarkable is that this group of "nuns" seems to be much younger and prettier than the previous group, and they exude a clean soapy scent rather than cheap perfume.

Milos initially thought he was seeing things.

He was led into the tent by a rude mercenary who whispered something in the ear of a “nun”.

Later, a wooden sign that read "Confession in Progress" was hung outside the tent, and upon hearing the confession, he instantly understood everything.

'Sister, please accept my confession.'

Saint Sith will forgive your sins!

A rustling sound came through the curtain.

"Damn, genius... he's a fucking genius!"

Milos couldn't help but curse inwardly, and thanked Saint Siss and Sir Richter, feeling both absurdity and a touch of genuine admiration.

During the boring days of waiting for news from her senior, her restless heart began to stir under immense mental pressure.

He possessed a fortune enough to buy a small town, yet he could only hide in a tattered tent, living in constant fear—a torment that nearly drove him mad.

Why not repent?

Milos felt the voice of a demon—no, a nun—appear in his ear.

He could no longer bear it; he had to confess his sins, even if only once. He had sacrificed too much for magic, never living a day for himself, and never experiencing joy.

At dusk, he found the "nun" who looked most agreeable.

After listening to his plea for "repentance," the other person smiled holyly and said softly, "The Holy Light will forgive every lost sheep. Please come in, my child."

Milos swallowed hard and walked shakily into the tent, just like when he first entered the church, unsure of where to put his hands.

Ashamed to say it.

He had read enough books to fill ten bookshelves, and countless colleagues had been pushed out of his circle, but he had never seen this one.

It wasn't until the nun came over with the donation box that he hurriedly pulled out some coins from his pocket, dropped them in, and forced an awkward smile.

Dang clang——

The crisp sound melted away his unease and guilt, while the sacred incense relaxed his tense nerves.

Under the nun's gentle and considerate comfort and professional guidance, he temporarily forgot all the dangers and troubles of the outside world. Here, he was not a fugitive with an uncertain future, but a helpless "child" forgiven by God.

"Saint Seis... Waaah, please forgive me..." Milos cried out, just like a child who had made a mistake.

The nun stroked his hair and comforted him softly.

"He will forgive you, my child."

He felt that all his sins had been forgiven.

And this feeling completely addicted him...

……

In the study of Eagle Rock Castle, the fireplace flames flickered, just like the anger and determination burning in Sir Richter's heart.

Not long ago, he learned some shocking news from his lord—a baron of the kingdom!

The famous Prince Colin, on a whim, took the apprentice recruitment exam during his visit to the Academy, only to have his paper stolen by someone else!
The audacious fugitive has already crossed the border, but he is likely not far away and is still on the lands of the Duke of the North.

As for why the Baron knew, it was because Xuebang found the Baron's lord—the esteemed Duke of the North.

The baron told his lords about it as a joke, but it was clear that the lord had little interest in the fugitive, but was particularly interested in the magician who mocked the school.

"They've made such a big fuss over a problem that could have been solved with just an anti-counterfeiting label. I think they've ruined their brains by studying magic! I told you, we shouldn't have let those farmers from the Kingdom of Rhodes figure out that stuff."

He always thought he was smarter than others and had great wisdom. His territory was well-organized, the people were morally upright and of good character, and even the cows could read the Bible. It was absolutely impossible for them to make such a low-level mistake.

Richter laughed along with the Baron, but silently kept the matter to himself. Upon returning, he couldn't contain his excitement and paced back and forth in his study.

"An opportunity! This is a golden opportunity!"

He paced excitedly back and forth in his study, his face flushed with excitement. He believed this was a golden opportunity given to him by Saint Sith to redeem himself! As long as he captured that sinner and presented him to His Highness the Prince, all his previous negligence and mistakes would be wiped clean!

The prince will remember the Richter family because of this, and may even bring their legend back to the Holy City!

"Guards!" He immediately ordered the steward to gather all the guards in the castle, and commanded with great spirit, "Even if you have to turn Eagle Rock Territory upside down, find that shameless scoundrel who dared to offend His Highness the Prince!"

Everyone was completely dumbfounded upon hearing this, looking at each other in bewilderment.

Turn Eagle Rock Collar upside down...

This lord probably forgot how many transient people lived in his territory, and how vast the snowfield was.

Besides, who would stay where they are after committing a crime?

Without a doubt, that guy has already fled to the whirlpool sea in the south or the port in the north, and is probably already on a ship heading to the New World.

However, just when everyone was at a loss, an unexpected "hero" appeared.

That man was called Cabin, a guard in the castle and the father of all the "nuns" in Eagle Rock Territory.

He didn't want to get involved in this mess; where would the bounty come from compared to confessing? But if the master's stubborn temper flared up again and he really turned Eagle Rock Territory upside down, then he would be the one to lose his head.

For the sake of his future and income, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go for it. Even if the fugitive wasn't in Eagle Rock Territory, he had to be there!
Fortunately, through the nuns in the camp, he actually found someone who seemed to be the real deal.

He was a strange magician.

He was low-key in his actions but generous in his spending. Unlike the apprentices who came to take the exam, he was truly capable and even used holy light to heal a nun's old wound.

Cabin was overjoyed upon hearing this. He threatened Lina not to alert the enemy, or they would all be doomed. Then he went to the castle steward and claimed that he knew someone in the traveler's camp who had seen the suspicious man.

Sir Richter was overjoyed and immediately rewarded Carbin, appointing him as the next commander of the castle guard!
Having said that, Sir Richter pulled out his dusty armor, picked up his ancestral sword, and vowed to personally lead the team to capture that "morally corrupt magician"!
Carbin was taken aback by Sir Richter's determination and quickly tried to dissuade him. It wasn't that he was afraid the man would escape, but rather that he didn't want his chicken coop to be smashed because of the lord's grand display.

"My lord, my lord! You mustn't! You are awe-inspiring, but that mage is a cunning rat. A large army would probably scare him away. To deal with a bronze-level mage like this, you don't need to personally mobilize your forces. I have my own methods."

“Master, that’s what I suggested too… Since Carbin has a way, why don’t you let him give it a try? I believe he won’t embarrass you.” The butler also chimed in, not because he had also received money, but mainly because he was worried that his master would lose face if he actually went to the battlefield.

Richter thought it made sense, so he patted the soldier on the shoulder and handed over this "sacred task" entirely to his subordinates.

If this young soldier truly possesses such ability, then it is worthwhile for him to cultivate him.

Carbin, having received the order, dared not delay. He mounted a fast horse and galloped toward the travelers' camp, without taking anyone with him.

That evening, in a "nun's" tent, specially made calming incense was rising gently.

Milos, in the gentle embrace of repentance, had long since let down his guard, lying on warm laps and enjoying the tranquility of a sage's time.

This nun was already an old acquaintance of his.

Although he didn't tell her everything about his experiences, he still trusted her to some extent.

At least I don't have to worry about her stealing my money.

“Lily, sometimes… I really can’t understand it. If I had to choose again, I definitely wouldn’t become a magician. I’ve decided that when I go back this time, I’ll redeem my parents and then go to the New World to start over…”

“You’re tired, my poor child. Don’t think about so many worries,” the “nun” said softly, massaging his temples. “Lie down and leave everything to me…”

Smelling the calming incense, Milos felt his eyelids getting heavier and heavier, and in a dizzying sense of comfort, he unknowingly drifted off to sleep.

When he woke up again, he was horrified to find himself bound hand and foot, his mouth stuffed with a rag, and two men wearing black masks grinning at him...

……

Time has passed, so long that perhaps His Highness the Prince has long forgotten about this matter.

Milos woke up in a daze to a biting cold wind; just a moment ago he was in his mother's arms.

He first smelled the pungent odor of earth and decaying grass in the air, then felt the damp, cold sensation of rotting wood beneath his knees, and the chilling metallic coolness behind his neck.

He suddenly opened his eyes and found himself kneeling on an unfamiliar gallows, surrounded by a crowd of unfamiliar people.

He saw not only himself, but also the ashen-faced butler kneeling beside him. He vaguely remembered that the butler's name was Yankov, and that they had made a deal at the Adventurer's House tavern.

Around the execution ground, the cold wind made the flags flutter, and what was flying was not only the Richter family crest, but also the black flag with white wolves of the Duke of the North!

Milos felt utterly hopeless, his heart sinking to the bottom.

A judge from Dragon City sat in the sentencing dock, surrounded by a group of knights, and coldly pronounced their crimes:
“The criminals Marco Gage and Milos stole the property of the Imperial Prince. Their crimes deserve to be punished and are unforgivable!”

Upon hearing the verdict, Yankov, who was kneeling to the side, closed his eyes, and two lines of tears streamed down his aged face.

“I, Marco Gage… confess to all the charges, hoping that Saint Cecilia will forgive me for the sins I have committed in my life when I die.”

Before leaving, he bid farewell to his wife and children, telling them that he was going to hide in a faraway place because their father had offended someone he shouldn't have.

However, he was still lucky; at least the Gage family treated his family well.

Lord Dorian was not a merciful man, but he never broke his word on this matter, which is why his servants were willing to die for him.

As for his age... that's not really a problem. After all, it's not just young people who take the Xuebang exam; they just need to give a different answer.

The judge waved his hand expressionlessly.

The executioner raised his blade and brought it down; a white-haired head rolled to the ground.

Warm blood splattered onto Milos's face, and he was so terrified when he saw this that he wet himself.

The instinct for survival overwhelmed everything. He struggled frantically, his eyes bloodshot, and he made muffled groans of injustice through his mouth stuffed with rags. He screamed that he was just a nobody, that there was a mastermind behind him, that he wanted to see the lord, that he wanted to see His Highness the Prince! He wanted to tell everyone he knew!
pity--

It's all too late.

If they had shouted it out earlier and the prince had heard it, they might have survived.

Or perhaps you should just disappear into the crowd, leaving with all the unresolved issues, and live the rest of your life like a rat.

The judge in Longshi City completely ignored his shouts, as if he hadn't seen the dying struggle of an ant, and waved his hand indifferently again.

A just trial has never been so swift.

Another hot human head fell to the ground.

Following the servant's father, this time it was the serf's son.

After a brief silence, the onlookers erupted in triumphant cheers. Although they didn't know the prince's name, their lord had still given them a good show.

It is said that a magician was among those executed!
This is so exciting!
……

After the execution, the crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only a few guards cleaning up the bloodstains on the execution ground.

The judge from Dragon City withdrew the temporary courtroom expressionlessly, and when everything was nearing its end, he shook hands with a magic apprentice who had been waiting in the corner for a long time.

“Thank you for your fair judgment, sir,” the apprentice said politely. “Now our Prince, who loves to wander around and neglects his duties, can finally get an ‘explanation’.”

Professor Hector returned to the academy and threw a tantrum. He had already declared that he would investigate thoroughly, and there couldn't be no result at all.

Now, this case can finally be closed.

“You’re welcome, it’s my pleasure to serve you,” the judge replied politely. “Also, the Duke of Blackwood asked me to give his regards to your tutor. His youngest son is very fond of the mage’s gift… The little fellow needs a storage ring to keep his toys that he always loses.”

The apprentice smiled.

"I will pass on the message to my advisor."

The Kingdom of Rhodes and the Academy have a bad relationship, but that doesn't mean Duke Blackwood can't be friends with the magicians of the Academy.

The magicians of the Academy always complain that the Empire is meddling too much, but does that stop Professor Hector from shamelessly throwing a tantrum for the Empire's prince?
The two exchanged a knowing smile and then went their separate ways.

That magic apprentice was none other than Milos's beloved "senior".

Looking at the cleaned-up bloodstains, he silently mourned for his foolish junior.

“Poor child,” he smiled, but sneered inwardly, “Your kind mentor deliberately let you go. Wouldn’t it have been better to just take those three hundred gold coins and disappear into the crowd? Why did you have to stay in a place like this? Do you really expect to come back?”

That kid is quite clever and efficient; otherwise, we wouldn't have chosen him for this task. But clever people can be a little naive sometimes, living in a dream of becoming a sage.

Now look what happened! He lost 300 gold coins and was branded with a crime worth millions of gold coins, and even lost his head.

He shook his head slightly, feeling sorry for the boy's parents, then pulled up the hood of his cloak, turned and disappeared into the crowd.

(End of this chapter)