“When I heard about it from Zoe, I was doubtful if it was serious or just a joke, but it turns out to be real.”


    The Duke of Parn let out a hollowugh upon seeing the people I had brought along.


    Indeed, the members going to visit the sick were quite extraordinary.


    Paybi, the mascot of the Church of the Goddess.


    Arthur, although distanced from the throne, nheless had royal blood.


    With the addition of the Duke of Parn and Zoe, it was a lineup that any noble would find intimidating.


    In other words, it was a selection that the Barrow Duke family could hardly refuse toe.


    No one could turn away when such formidable individuals showed up at their door.


    The moment we arrived, the door would naturally open for us.


    With that, entry into the dungeon was assured! All we had to do was properly trigger it!


    “I’ve told you several times that I ryed the information correctly, Father.”


    “Haha. I’m sorry for doubting you, Zoe. I didn’t expect Lady Alrn to have such ack of modesty.”


    ‘...Oh. Was that a bit too much?’


    “The Duke can’t handle this much? I thought I recalled you saying that there was no need to decline beforehand, but perhaps I was mistaken.”


    “Couldn’t be. I just thought the Barrow Duke family would be quite flustered. I mentioned it beforehand, but hearing it is different from seeing it directly.”


    For a moment, he spoke casually, causing me to hesitate, but the Duke of Parn simply smiled and said nothing more.


    It was probably because I was a friend of his daughter that he was showing consideration. If someone from another ducal family had said something like that, they would have raised their voice.


    Once we entered the Barrow Duke family’s estate, I decided to keep quiet. Who knows what kind ofmotion might arise?


    After our greetings concluded, between me and the Duke of Parn, we headed directly toward the Barrow Duke family’s domain.


    The journey didn’t take long.


    While the distance from the academy to the Barrow Duke family was considerable, the Duke of Parn’s abilities as a wizard closed that distance in mere seconds.


    As the Duke cast his spell, I braced myself for the nausea that usually apanied teleportation, but I felt nothing unusual after the scenery around us changed.


    What’s this? Why don’t I feel anything? Did the idiot fox do something? Or have I finally grown strong enough to withstand the pain of teleportation?


    “Truly, it’s the Duke. Such a seamless teleportation.”


    “Haha. It’s just a trivial skill. Prince 3.”


    Unfortunately, all my spections were off the mark. It was simply the Duke of Parn’s remarkable ability that allowed for a teleportation without any nausea.


    A truly amazing wizard can do such things.


    “Wee, Duke Parn. And...”@@novelbin@@


    Not long after we arrived, a vassal of the Barrow Duke family appeared, briefly stiffening at the sight of our group before regainingposure.


    It seemed they hadn’t expected such a gathering.


    “...I will guide you directly to the mansion.”


    As I followed behind, I scrutinized the Barrow Duke family’s estate. I thought I might find some trace of something sinister interfering in the streets.


    However, I found no signs of anything unusual on the streets.


    Neither the old man, nor the idiot fox, nor Paybi or Adri sensed anything out of the ordinary.


    The streets of the Barrow Duke family were merely carrying a slightly gloomy atmosphere due to the Duke’s illness.


    The mansion itself wasn’t much different. None of us could detect even the slightest anomaly within.


    While it felt quiet for a ce where many people worked, that was just the nature of the Barrow Duke family.


    <It’s just an ordinary noble mansion. I can’t find anything strange.>


    ‘It seems so.’


    Given that the unrefined deity had given me a quest, it was clear that something was unfolding within. Why then could we find nothing?


    Considering the members I had brought with me, it would be normal for them to have sensed any anomalies by now.


    Was it truly just me making a fuss? Was this quest merely a cruel joke from the unrefined deity?


    “Indeed, it seems I owe a great debt to my son. To have such remarkable individualse to visit me in my time of sickness. Hah. However, my jackal has yet to return from his training, even though I informed you in advance.”


    My doubts deepened upon meeting the Duchess.


    She was the one closest to the Barrow Duke. If something sinister were indeed interfering with the Duke’s condition, she would surely be involved.


    Yet, I found no issues with her. To my eyes, the Duchess was merely a weary wife, exhausted from nursing her sick husband and managing the affairs of her family.


    “Let’s go meet my husband first.”


    “Is it alright with this many people, mydy?”


    “Thank you for your concern, Duke Parn. However, it’s fine. He’s quite well. He’s just been whining about wanting to swing his sword outside every day.”


    As the Duchess mentioned, the Barrow Duke was indeed in good spirits.


    “Come on in.”


    As the door opened, the Duke stood up to greet us, his eyes radiating seriousness.


    Just from that, it was clear: the Barrow Duke’s illness was not as severe as it seemed.


    “Thank you, Duke Parn, and your daughter. Saintess, Prince, and even Lady Benedict, to worry about me ande here. Being sick isn’t so bad sometimes.”


    It wasn’t just his serious gaze that indicated his health.


    Though he didn’t possess the kind of muscled physique that transcended humanity like Benedict, he had the right amount of muscle where it should be, giving the impression of a warrior trained to the utmost.


    At least in my eyes, it wouldn’t be strange for him to jump out of bed at any moment.


    Wondering if it was just my imagination, I subtly asked the others, but the responses were the same.


    Nothing strange was visible.


    Everything was normal.


    “Yet as you can see, I am fine. I could return to work immediately. If my wife hadn’t been scolding me to stop working, I would have been back on the job already.”


    “What a ridiculous boast, Barrow Duke. When I came here a couple of months ago, weren’t you near death?”


    “That was then. Duke Parn. Look at me now. Where is the trace of illness?”


    Thanks to Duke Parn leading the conversation, we finished our visit without needing to say a word. The Duke then said there were things for the dukes to discuss and ushered us outside.


    Thus, we found ourselves in a position to wait in the reception room until the two of them finished their conversation.


    Sigh. I really don’t know what’s going on.


    Why is there nothing strange?


    Is there truly no anomaly to be found?


    As I sat on the sofa in the reception room, lost in thought, the old man spoke up.


    <At this point, it seems your suspicions might be misced.>


    ‘...I think so too.’


    I had examined the streets, the mansion, the Duchess, and even the Duke, but found nothing unusual.


    Even with the presence of formidable individuals like the mistress of the forest, the saintess, the powerful necromancer, and the great mage.


    Given the circumstances, it would be reasonable to conclude that there were no anomalies within the Barrow family.


    ‘The unrefined deity still ims there’s something strange.’


    Why doesn’t the unrefined deity tell me that the quest ispleted?


    I’ve confirmed there’s nothing unusual, so why is the quest still active?


    <Did the deity draw this conclusion?>


    ‘Yes.’


    The unrefined deity deres a questplete when he achieves what he desires.


    If his intention was merely to y a trick on me, he would have cleared the quest and given me a mischievous reward by now.


    Yet the unrefined deity remains silent.


    <...Is that so.>


    ‘What could it mean?’


    <Let’s think of it the other way around. Consider why the individuals here can’t detect an anomaly even though there is one.>


    The other way around? I thought about the old man’s words.


    Magic. Dark magic. Barriers and curses. Various sinister means. Even with the current members capable of detecting all these, there must be something they cannot sense.


    The conditions are rather stringent.


    After all, I had brought together members prepared to catch nearly anything, so it’s only natural for it to be strict.


    Numerous possibilities shed through my mind, rising and sinking.


    Coming up with a means to surpass those strict conditions while also being something the Barrow Duke could be consumed by was an incredibly difficult task.


    Several ideas came to mind, but most of them were simply impossible at this moment.


    For instance.


    Yes.


    The overconfident fool I had escaped from after being beaten by the old man.


    If that guy was causing trouble, it could exin this phenomenon.


    The greatest power of the dark gods is concealment.


    If he deliberately stirred up trouble, it would be natural for no one to notice.


    But the reason I rule him out is that he doesn’t have the power to meddle with a duke.


    The Barrow Duke is a robust warrior, easily counted among the upper echelon of the kingdom. He may not be as strong as Benedict, but the likes of that arrogant fool wouldn’t dare to challenge him.


    Unless the dark god hadpletely awakened, this is far too early for that. He wouldn’t awaken until at least thetter half of the second year.


    So, if we set him aside and think of other variables...


    “I didn’t expect so many people toe see me.”


    Just as I was desperately racking my brain, I heard the sound of the door opening and looked up.


    “It’s been a while. Everyone.”


    Jackal Barrow finished his polite greeting and surveyed the reception room before locking eyes with me, furrowing his brows.


    Does he really think I confessed? Is he still following me around?


    Hah. This is so annoying.


    How am I going to clear up this misunderstanding?


    Suddenly.


    Paybi, who had been beside me, stood up abruptly, drawing everyone’s attention toward her.


    Paybi, however, seemed not to care about that gaze and was only looking at Jackal’s face.


    “Saintess? What brings you here?”


    “Ah. Well, that is...”


    Seeing the flustered expression on Paybi’s face, I thought.


    I didn’t know why she was so flustered.


    But I did know that it was strange for Paybi to be in such a state of disarray.


    As a saint who had traveled around meeting many people, she would be ustomed to maintaining herposure.


    For her to not even be able to make a proper excuse meant she had seen something that perplexed her.


    So, I needed to step in and handle this appropriately.


    If there was anything I could do, it would be that.


    “It’s nothing much. The inferior prince? The unrefined saintess, who’s bing more of an idiot just like her friend, was just saying that I liked the prince!?”


    Drawing attention.


    “...Ah, that ridiculous rumor.”


    Upon hearing my words, Jackal disyed genuine disdain.