Chapter 90: ⁹⁰Rumors In The Land Of Valen
Two days had passed since the night of the massacre at the southern border.
This morning, the pale winter sunlight managed to slip through the cracks of the wooden windows in the Valen family’s dining room.
The old house began to breathe again. The fireplace in the dining room burned brightly, and a simple breakfast was served—toasted wheat bread, a salty broth soup, and warm tea.
"This is your tea, Young Master," Yuna said.
The girl in the black-and-white maid uniform tilted the porcelain teapot carefully. Her dark brown hair was tied back in a low ponytail.
A friendly smile graced her lips. However, her fingers gripping the teapot’s handle visibly trembled.
At the head of the table, Ethan sat with a straight back. His long-sleeved black shirt fit snugly around his frame, while his dark brown hair was left slightly messy.
"Thank you," Ethan replied briefly. He took the cup and took a slow sip.
The sound of heavy boot steps echoed from the kitchen hallway. Asrof stepped in.
The old man with a military posture looked slightly exhausted. The lines on his face seemed deeper under the morning light. Even though his old butler attire was neat and clean, his sharp gaze implied a high level of vigilance.
Asrof stopped a few feet from the table, then bowed his head deeply. "Young Master, I apologize for interrupting your breakfast. There are a few things I need to report regarding the village’s situation this morning."
"Speak," Ethan replied, setting his cup down with a soft clink on the small saucer.
"Mhm... panic is starting to spread among the villagers, Sir," Asrof reported in a calm tone. "There are two versions of a rumor currently spreading fast by word of mouth."
Ethan didn’t reply, letting the old man continue.
"The first rumor... they say the southern outpost and Baron Drel’s estate were attacked by a pack of starving, wild demons from the western forest. There were no survivors," Asrof swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing before continuing to the more sensitive part. "However, the second rumor... several villagers claim to have seen Lady Lilith’s silhouette darting out of this house a few nights ago. They are whispering that... you were the one who unleashed that demon to level Drel’s estate."
Hearing that, the rhythm of Ethan’s breathing didn’t change. No furrowed brows, no denial, much less a satisfied smile. His dark brown eyes stared at Asrof with absolute coldness.
"And? What do you believe, Asrof?" Ethan asked. His voice was low, almost like a whisper, yet deeply intimidating.
Asrof straightened his back, returning the gaze without flinching. "I don’t believe in any rumors, Young Master. I only believe in reality. The enemy threatening our fields has been destroyed, and Valen Village still stands. That is more than enough for me."
Ethan gave a slight nod. "Let them talk. Fear is a much more effective border guard than hiring a hundred mercenaries. If that rumor keeps them obedient, let the rumor live."
"I understand, Master," Asrof replied. "It’s just... there are a dozen village representatives currently waiting outside the gates. Their faces are deathly pale, but they are insisting on meeting you to confirm their fate."
Ethan let out a soft sigh. He rose from his chair. "Alright. I’ll go meet them."
The winter wind immediately slapped Ethan’s face the moment the main doors of the Valen estate opened.
Outside the gates, a dozen villagers huddled together in tattered clothes. Some hugged their children, shivering not only from the cold but also from the whispers of last night.
The moment Ethan’s figure stepped out, the crowd fell completely silent.
A few children peeked from behind their parents’ legs, staring at the Young Master with curiosity. The rest kept their heads bowed, not daring to meet the young man’s eyes for long.
Ethan walked down the stone steps without rushing. Both of his hands rested casually inside his pockets.
His steps halted a few meters from the gates. The iron bars became an absolute boundary between him and his people.
"I don’t care what you heard or gossiped about last night," Ethan’s voice broke the silence.
His tone wasn’t loud, yet the authority behind it forced everyone there to hold their breath. Ethan swept his gaze across the haggard faces behind the gates.
"There is only one thing you need to know. The southern fields are safe. No more greedy noble soldiers will chase you out of there."
Several villagers gasped. Their breaths condensed thickly in the morning air.
"Prepare whatever seeds you have. Mend your farming tools," Ethan commanded with absolute finality. "Once the snow starts to melt, the southern fields will be ready to be replanted. Focus your energy on surviving. Do not waste your strength meddling in affairs that are beyond your comprehension."
Without even bothering to exude killing intent, the air around Ethan felt crushing to the chest. Several villagers’ knees trembled. Not a single one dared to open their mouth to argue. They only nodded in unison, as stiff as wooden puppets.
"Now, return to your homes."
One by one, the crowd turned around and dispersed with hurried steps. They got what they needed: a guarantee of safety, from someone they now believed to be far more terrifying than any monster.
The atmosphere in the living room felt contrasting. Warm and peaceful.
Near the fireplace, Elara walked slowly on the old carpet. Her cheeks were starting to flush with color. Miya watched from the side, her hands ready to catch the girl if she lost her balance.
"Ah, careful, Lady Elara. Just take it slow," Miya cautioned. Both her hands hovered protectively near Elara’s waist.
"I’m perfectly fine, Sister Miya," Elara replied cheerfully. Her laughter chimed softly like a bell. "The floor feels much warmer today. My legs don’t feel as weak as yesterday either."
Miya smiled as well. The Elf’s shoulders relaxed slightly seeing her patient’s innocence.
Right at that moment, the sound of heavy boots entered the room.
Elara’s sensitive ears twitched. She instantly stopped in her tracks and turned her body toward the sound. A wide smile bloomed on her lips. "Brother?"
Ethan stopped walking. His dark brown eyes, which had initially been sharp, slowly lost their edge as he looked at his sister who could now stand on her own.
"Your steps are much more stable, Elara," Ethan noted. His voice lowered, turning calm. "Keep practicing, but remember your limits. Don’t push yourself."
"Of course, Brother! Sister Miya is taking really good care of me, you know," Elara answered enthusiastically.
Ethan glanced at Miya and gave a faint nod. The petite Elf replied with an awkward bow. Without lingering to ruin the mood, Ethan resumed his steps toward the North Wing hallway, heading for his study.
After Ethan left, Elara went back to feeling her way along the edge of the sofa, memorizing the room’s layout.
In another corner, near the empty wooden bookshelves, Lilith was dusting a stack of old parchments with a feather duster. Her pink hair was tied loosely. Her golden-red eyes narrowed in boredom.
However, when Elara walked slowly past her, Lilith’s hand suddenly froze in mid-air.
The fine hairs on the back of the Succubus’s neck stood on end. Her demonic heart—which had practically never known fear except in the presence of Asmodeus—suddenly started beating frantically.
Her eyes widened, staring at the back of the blind girl in the cream dress with genuine shock.
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
Her hundreds of years of instincts screamed a danger warning. She sensed an extraordinary anomaly from within the fragile human girl’s body. Something holy, yet at the same time... lethal and foreign. Lilith didn’t understand what kind of energy it was, but its presence was enough to make her survival instincts churn wildly.
"Huh? Who’s there?" Elara’s steps halted. The little girl tilted her head, sniffing the air. "Mhm... you smell like a night-blooming flower. But... a bit sharp."
Lilith hurriedly swallowed, wetting her suddenly dry throat. She forced the corners of her lips up, forming a fake smile.
"I am Lilith, Little Miss," she answered, trying to make her husky tone sound normal. "I am the Young Master’s new maid assigned to clean the house."
"Oh, I see," Elara smiled sweetly, not picking up a single shred of malicious intent. "Thank you for taking care of our home, Lilith. Keep up the good work."
The blind girl walked away again, guided by Miya.
Once they were far enough away, Lilith leaned her back against the wooden wall. She closed her eyes for a moment, shaking off the cold sensation creeping up her spine.
Near the fireplace, the observant Miya managed to catch the Succubus’s stiffness. After making sure Elara was seated safely, Miya walked over to Lilith.
"Is there a problem?" Miya asked quietly. Her light purple eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Lilith glanced at the Elf from the corner of her eye. Her cynical smile returned. "It’s nothing," she whispered. Her eyes went back to staring straight at Elara’s back. "It’s just that... this house is apparently truly full of strange things."
Inside the study, Ethan threw his back against the leather chair behind the mahogany desk.
He left one window slightly open. The cold air seeping in helped him maintain his sanity and sharpness of mind.
His mind drifted to Zenithar. Sage Cornelius, that old geezer of a Headmaster, had only given him twenty days. Ethan glanced at the sky outside, which was beginning to dim into a dark orange. Time was running out.
If he returned to the center of schemes and magic in Zenithar—where the major noble families preyed on one another—this Rank S power of his wasn’t enough to guarantee absolute domination. The monsters there were far more organized than mere border guards.
Ethan stared at his palm, feeling the dense flow of Sin Mana in his veins.
The Asmodeus System was starving. It needed more Lust Points to unlock abilities in the Shop. He needed relics, he needed new magic. He had to become the apex predator before stepping back into the wolf’s den.
Outside, the snow began to fall heavily again. A decision had been made.
Night finally fell, swallowing Valen Village.
After the tidying routine was over, the old house died down in silence once more. Only the howl of the north wind could be heard battering against the windowpanes.
Inside his room, Ethan sat at the edge of the bed, leaning casually against the wooden post. The light from a single candle on the nightstand cast dancing shadows across his face, making his dark brown eyes look like bottomless abysses.
"Lilith. Miya. Come in."
His voice was flat, yet enough to vibrate the air in the hallway outside.
A few seconds later, the door creaked open.
Lilith stepped in first with the grace of a predator. Her maid dress looked slightly wet and clung to her chest—accentuating her curves and the Lust Brand tattoo beneath the transparent fabric. The corners of her lips pulled into a wide smile. Her golden-red eyes glinted with anticipation. She knew exactly what tonight’s summons meant.
Behind her, Miya walked in like a prisoner on death row.
Her maid outfit was extremely neat and buttoned all the way to the collar. The petite Elf girl’s face was as pale as paper. Both her hands wrung the edge of her apron in front of her stomach. She kept her head bowed, not daring to look at the bed.
Ethan stared at his two personal maids in silence. His coldness was absolute.
"Lock the door," Ethan commanded. His voice sliced through the silence like a sword blade.
Miya’s shoulders jolted violently. With trembling hands, she turned the lock on the wooden door. Click.
Ethan folded his arms across his chest, staring at the two women who now stood stiffly at the foot of his bed.
"The two of you will be staying in this room tonight," Ethan spoke slowly. Pure dominance radiated from every syllable, choking the air inside the room. "And I expect you to understand what that entails."
Hearing that absolute command, Lilith’s smile widened until her small fangs showed. She turned her body to face Ethan, preparing to dance in sin.
On the other hand, Miya’s knees nearly gave out. The petite healer swallowed a lump that felt like sharp gravel. Tonight, there was no more running away from the Demon King’s harvest of sin.