Hero’s Downfall Report

31 – Devotion with the Sword (6)

Viscount Lancelot Usher was diligent and faithful, taking a leading role in managing the territory. That was the reason he died at a young age.

The only source of income for the Usher viscounty was silver. Once a prosperous mine, now dried up, it was no different from an abandoned mine. So, Viscount Usher joined other miners to explore new veins and ended up in an accident.

A loud explosion was heard, and the entrance collapsed.

Viscountess and the estate workers rushed with shovels and pickaxes, but the land that had swallowed people stubbornly refused to open its mouth. In the end, people wailed, throwing up blistered hands.

The viscountess, like others, awkwardly moved her bandaged hands to gather her husband’s hair from the pillow, clothes, and bed, making it a keepsake. It was just a handful, but that was all her husband left behind.

After the funeral, the viscountcy was inherited by Lancelot’s younger brother, Roderick Usher. As there were no children between Lancelot and his wife, the brother took over.

The brotherly affection was strong, so even after the elder brother’s death, Roderick treated his sister-in-law with great respect. However, no matter how good and trustworthy Roderick was, he had no talent for turning soil into bread.

The debt of the estate was at an unbearable level, and the residents of the estate, who had lost their families and means of livelihood, struggled to have a meal every two days.

Then the merchants swarmed in. They were people who, despite having plenty of money, had lived ignored due to their humble status.

The Usher Earldom was an attractive offer. The land had little value, making it easy to haggle the price. With a castle, estate residents, and fertile land, it was sufficient for someone to pose as an earl.

They discreetly or openly proposed to Roderick Usher to ‘sell’ the earldom. They were even willing to pay for the noble title.

The Countess was a virtuous woman, but she had lived her entire life with the pride of nobility. It was unthinkable for her to give up her noble position and sell it for money.

However, Roderick persuaded his sister-in-law. He argued that if they only thought about their family, there would be no problem, but they should do something for the estate residents who had lost everything.

“If it were you, what would you have done in this situation, sister?”

The Countess crumbled at his words.

After a tearful moment, the Countess agreed to Roderick’s proposal and then fainted. Roderick, along with his half-brother Edgar Usher, convinced the estate residents. Edgar, despite being a bastard son, was known for his good nature and entertaining qualities as a clergyman.

At the end of negotiations, Roderick Usher secured a good deal. The amount for the Usher Earldom was shocking enough to make the neighboring nobles of the estate gasp.

“Is there so much money in the world, buying a gravel field at such a high price?”

The nobles unleashed their servants to find out the information, and they returned with heartwarming tales.

A significant portion of the sale amount was evenly distributed among the estate residents who had lost their families, ensuring they wouldn’t starve to death, though not living a luxurious life.

In addition, the Countess received a secluded house near the village and even had a maid, allowing her to live the rest of her life without worrying about money. It was all thanks to Roderick Usher, who generously shared a substantial part of his share with his sister-in-law and the estate residents.

In return, Roderick had only enough capital to set up a small shop, but he mentioned going to the southern part of the empire to start a business. There are records of him frequently discussing actual business issues with the new lord.

The ‘Count’ who became the new owner of the estate turned out to be surprisingly frugal. While considering the livelihood of the working people, he didn’t reduce their necessities. He saved on food expenses, cut down on unnecessary drink purchases, and used the money from selling extravagant decorations to cover the cost of purchasing livestock for the estate’s future. He rarely even went hunting unless it was for entertaining guests.

People who enjoyed mocking him would say he must have spent all his money buying the land, but the estate residents secretly admired the Count’s generosity. Even if they bought his favor with money, it was urgently needed for them.

Up to this point, it may sound like a typical story of a fallen noble.

However, strange things began to happen after that. The estate started buzzing with excitement.

The rural estate was messy, and the residents of the estate accepted that messiness as their daily life. However, even they thought that the flies were proliferating at an alarming rate, so much so that it was excessive. Furthermore, it became even stranger when the flies only clung to the windows and door frames of the houses.

The Countess’s cabin was worse; there were so many flies stuck to the outer walls of the house that it was impossible to enter or leave.

What was even more serious was that fires were erupting from the ground. The fires didn’t even go out once they ignited. Spraying water or adding sand only helped briefly. The fires kept erupting.

The frenzy of birds and animals running amok became frequent, and the residents of the estate complained of insomnia. They claimed that there were monstrous howls when lying in bed.

“It’s the curse of the Countess,” people whispered.

“The dead Lancelet Usher and the villagers are trying to crawl out from that ditch. Their grudge must be deep. Their flesh must be rotting, so how many flies there must be.”

As a strange smell began to spread, suspicions turned into certainties.

It was a smell stronger than a combination of decaying mud and manure. It was so unbearable that even opening one’s eyes was difficult, and it clung to clothes and blankets so stubbornly that no matter how much they were washed, it wouldn’t disappear.

“It’s the smell of sulfur. They say it’s the smell when the devil comes up.”

Strange rumors began to spread. They murmured about the ghost lights around the cabin, and they talked about the corpses of burnt cats and dogs. People even became suspicious of the Countess becoming more beautiful.

“Her skin has become even whiter.”

“They say she meets someone every night. She screams loudly. It’s so loud that it can be heard outside the cabin.”

“She’s still young, only twenty-five.”

“Is she really meeting a human?”

Suspicions turned into accusations.

“Look at the estate in this state. She doesn’t come out. Is that even allowed?”

“These flies are so annoying. With the cabin covered like that, what’s she doing inside? Is it really safe in there? No, it’s not. Maybe something is crawling out from inside the cabin.”

“Why is she lighting candles inside? Where did the maids go?”

Hidden knowledge was mixed in as well.

“They say there’s a demon called Belzebub. It spreads a foul odor and wherever it goes, plagues occur. It crosses over to unspeakable places every time it meets with its devotee. Ugh… it’s filthy and disgraceful.”

“If she cries every night, how good must it feel to wail like that?”

“Seriously… She doesn’t even dress properly now. Have you seen it? The suggestive glances? Shameless. Utterly shameless. She’s become more beautiful. Devouring her husband, devouring the villagers, frolicking with the devil every night. Living it up, having fun.”

After that, it was unstoppable. People marched towards the hut with hunting dogs, torches, and farming tools. The subordinates of the new lord rushed forward to block them, but even they cast sidelong glances at the witch in the hut.

“Look at the scales falling off her eyes! How much sin must she have committed! These maggots, these offspring of hers! All born from her! A filthy wench, a cursed wench, a creature endlessly steeped in debauchery! Not a human but a brothel-born daughter laying eggs! Divine punishment will descend upon your head!”

“Enough! Please stop!”

Lordrick Usher and Father Edgar rushed out. Both were drenched in sweat. The villagers couldn’t bring themselves to disturb even the younger brother of the former lord and the amiable priest.

The newly arrived lord, informed belatedly, shook his head,

“If that’s the case, let’s convene an inquisitorial hearing.”

It was proposed to investigate whether there really was a devil. Though cries of “Right!” grew louder, the new lord seemed reluctant to become the accuser himself. Hesitating, Lordrick made up his mind.

“My brother and I will bring the accusation. It’s better to prove my sister-in-law’s innocence than have someone else maliciously accuse her.”

“Please do your best.”

Due to the gravity and seriousness of the matter, and the unrest among the people that couldn’t be resolved locally, it was decided that the religious court of Magdeburg would handle the case.

As the secretary paused his reading, a moment of silence settled in. Thanks to that, Cain could glance at the back seat. An old man, clearly from the countryside, was trembling, but since he had placed his feet on the seats where Cain and Lily were sitting, the vibrations were transmitted as is. The old man lifted his head, removing his feet, but the faint ‘thud, thud’ sound was bothersome.

At the center of the tribunal, there was an old man, perhaps due to his age, his eyelids were drooping. But it wasn’t a gentle appearance. The protruding eyebrows seemed stubborn, and the fingertips sticking out were like a hawk’s claws.

“First of all, I regret your arrival at this distant court. This place is not for rewarding but for discerning right from wrong. May the Prophet of Life and Death bestow wisdom and discernment on us all.

O Lord, bless this foolish judge, Malachiah. Open his blind eyes, unstop his closed ears, and grant him the pure spirit of the young and the wisdom of the old.”

After a brief prayer, Judge Malachiah asked, “Witness, are there any inaccuracies or corrections to be made in the secretary’s reading?”

However, the response came from the defendant.

“It’s a lie…”

The Countess, seated on the witness stand, sobbed.

“A lie. It’s all lies…”

Immediately, an uproar ensued.

“I did not ask! If you utter words I haven’t instructed you to say again, consider it as ‘heard’ by something peculiar, and you will be confined. Remember this clearly! If there’s a demon lurking within you, I command you to leave this place immediately!”

The courtroom echoed with a thunderous noise. Cain shrugged, and the old man in the back briefly halted his pacing. Lily, judging by her flinch, seemed quite surprised.

“The plaintiff. Answer.”

“Certainly.”

“If there is anything to add or supplement to the proceedings so far, speak now. If you fail to answer regarding matters that may influence the judges’ decision, remember that it could be greatly detrimental to you. So, I’ll ask one last time, is there anything to supplement?”

The two brothers looked at each other.

“Nothing.”

“As this court understands, the plaintiff accuses Lady Sophie Usher, wife of the late Viscount Rainslot Usher, of the following charges. First, consorting with the impure devil, the King of Flies, a subordinate of the Devil, and being accused of spreading countless fly offspring in her domain…”

The guards restrained the Countess. She was tearing at her own arm. Her eyes were turned inside out, and her waist kept twisting. But the judge paid no attention.

“Second. Willingly offering her body as an instrument of pleasure, sacrificing the lives of 42 subjects, including the deceased husband Rainslot Usher, to regain youth and beauty, obtaining even more extraordinary beauty.

Third. Holding a grudge for the sale of her noble status and the lordship of the viscount, committing acts of unquenchable fire and stench.

This part is a bit unclear, whether the act of fanning the flames and stench was to ‘invoke’ the devil or if the devil had already been ‘invoked,’ leaving traces of fire and stench?

Plaintiff. Which one is it?”

“An act to invoke the devil,” replied Roderick Usher.

“Traces after invoking the devil,” replied Reverend Edgar Usher.

The two stepbrothers looked at each other again. Reverend Edgar corrected himself.

“I’m sorry. It is considered an act to summon the devil.”

“Reverend Edgar Usher. Do you swear on the truth of the contents hanging on the two heads of the double-headed eagle?”

“I swear.”

Lady of the Countess trembled in the dock. She bowed her head, her eyes kept rolling, and white foam gathered at the corners of her mouth. Blood flowed from her torn arm, but still, the Countess continued to raise her hand. She was requesting the right to speak.

But Judge Malachia did not even look at her. Instead, he instructed the guard.

“Summon the inquisitor.”

The guard opened the door at the back of the courtroom. A middle-aged priest with neatly cropped red hair appeared.

He had a gentle appearance, but his features were sharp, and his thick, rugged jaw revealed stubbornness. The visible wrinkles on his unhideable face added to his sternness.

Such a person is like a rock on the riverbed, hiding among the soft sand but ruthlessly driving away any large predators. The substantial build and upright posture under the red robe indicated that he was once a soldier.

He seemed to have considerable experience and seniority, as evidenced by the multiple insignias he wore. Among them, there was one with a white cross on a red ribbon. It symbolized the crusade that stood against the devil, left behind like an heirloom by Father Haspel.

The middle-aged priest bowed his head towards the judge. Cain saw deep trust in Malachia’s eyes.

“High Inquisitor Heinrich, Reverend. Did you personally visit Usher Manor to investigate?”

“I did.”

“Have you confirmed the presence of malice or its influence? Have you captured any evidence of involvement in this matter in any way?”

“Evidence has been captured.”

The audience murmured. The old man sitting behind Cain vigorously shook his legs once again. Cain was greatly annoyed, but this time he did not turn around.

“Is there anyone present in this courtroom who has been influenced by malice?”

Reverend Heinrich looked at the Countess.

“Yes. She is right in front of my eyes.”

From the lady’s mouth, a sound came, not human or animal, but literally the gnashing of a demon.