Ruin has come to our family

Could it be because of this bloodline?

Lance pondered for a moment. He felt the real reason the steward had not attacked was that the domain needed a lord. A vacant territory would inevitably attract the attention of other powers, which would be detrimental to the Ancestor's future plans. That was why the Ancestor himself, after running the estate into the ground, had faked his own death and gone into hiding. There must be powers in this world that even he feared.

The Church, perhaps? Or the Empire?

As the Ancestor's man, the steward had clearly intended to do the same—feign death, wait for Lance to inevitably fall, and then "revive" to find the next poor soul to take his place. But they had not counted on one thing.

I have friends in high places.

Lance noticed an object that had fallen to the floor after the steward was sacrificed. He picked it up and found it to be a gold ring. He examined it closely. Strange patterns were engraved upon the band, and the face of the ring bore the image of a barbed arc—the very same sigil that had been on the wax seal of the letter. This was the Ancestor's family signet ring.

Protected by his [Aegis] trait from any foulness it might contain, Lance did not hesitate. He slid the family ring onto his finger. In that instant, he felt a strange power flow from it. The minor nearsightedness he had from years of study in his past life vanished. The world before him grew sharper, clearer. It was not just a symbol of his station, but a transcendent item—a powerful trinket. From the effect, it seemed to enhance the user's senses. A fine piece of equipment.

He'd gotten a loot drop!

Lance knew this world held many strange powers, and the game had featured hundreds of unique items. But those were just strings of data. To truly feel the power of such an item was a marvelous sensation.

His good mood was broken when he finally noticed Dismas, standing frozen to one side. A cold sweat beaded on the man's face; he was terrified.

"Are you afraid?"

Lance's words startled Dismas from his stupor. Only then did he break free from the image that had been seared into his mind. He was silent, but his expression said everything.

"You saw it clearly," Lance said, his tone offering no comfort, only the cold, hard truth. "That is the kind of monster we must fight. And it is only one of many. If we cannot stop the fiend from reawakening, the corruption will spread, and monsters far more powerful than that one will be numberless."

He needed a fearless hero, not a yellow-bellied thief.

Dismas felt as if a hand were clamped around his heart. Every breath squeezed not air from his lungs, but courage from his soul. He could not forget the sight. He had a premonition that this cursed land would be his end.

"I... I am not ready..."

Dismas found he lacked the courage to remain loyal. Fear had seized his soul. All he wanted was to run, to flee to some distant land and forget everything. To pretend he had never come here.

"But we killed him," Lance said softly, shattering his fantasy.

Dismas blinked, as if something had clicked into place, but the realization was not yet complete.

"That's right," Lance continued, his voice growing stronger, more resolute. He placed a hand on Dismas's shoulder, and a faint [Bestow] flowed into him. "You saw it yourself. The monster was powerful, yes, but not invincible. Like any man, it can be hurt, it can feel fear, and it can die. Just like the one we killed, right before your eyes."

"We are not without the power to resist. You can make them fear. You can make them bleed. You can kill them!"

The enhancement took effect. A new impulse bloomed in the body that had been drained of its courage by fear. Dismas began to softly repeat Lance's words, his spirit slowly returning. That's right... the monster was destroyed right in front of me. It bleeds, it dies, just like any man. Why should I be afraid?

"I have already cast aside life and death, and so I have no fear," Lance said, removing his hand. "If you do not even have the courage to face the corruption, then tomorrow morning, I will give you a purse of coin, and you may leave." He simply looked at him, waiting.

The words struck Dismas like a physical blow. He looked at Lance, standing before him, spine straight as a spear. There was no trace of fear on his lord's face, only a sliver of profound disappointment. At that moment, Dismas felt an overwhelming shame. He should have been protecting his lord, but instead he had been frozen by fear, forcing his lord to protect him.

"My lord! I will not surrender to fear! If I must, I will march into Hell itself!" The more he thought, the angrier he became. He was desperate to prove himself. As he shouted the words, the veins in his neck stood out, his hands gripping his pistol and dirk with white-knuckled force. The image of the monster in his mind was no longer terrifying. If it appeared again, he would truly, honestly, charge it with weapons in hand.

"Fear itself is not to be feared," Lance said with a nod of approval, "for the song of humanity is a song of courage." He then changed the subject, dismissing the event. "Do not speak of what happened here. It will only cause chaos."

When they were outside, Lance saw the unsettled look on Susan's face and beckoned her over.

"The steward betrayed my family. He was conspiring with the Magistrate to harm me. I have dealt with him." He then took her hand, unwrapped the handkerchief, and placed his own hand over her wounds.

[Reconstitution of Flesh] activated. The boon he had just received was consumed, flowing as points of light into her skin. A miraculous sight appeared before them. The cuts on her wrist healed with incredible speed, the process of scabbing over entirely skipped, leaving behind smooth skin.

Dismas and Susan stared in amazement. But unlike their earlier suspicion and confusion at the [Sacrifice], they now accepted it naturally. To them, it was only right that their savior would possess such miraculous abilities. In fact, it would be strange if he didn't.

Lance, however, had a new insight. [Reconstitution of Flesh] was far more efficient for healing than [Bestow]. The latter was a full-body enhancement, while the former was targeted. It made sense.

This act also served to distract them from the earlier incident. With that, they continued their purge.

As Lance moved through the town, reaping the lives of the resident scum, he met with surprisingly little resistance. These men had been thoroughly corroded by wine, women, and profligacy, their senses dulled. They were good for bullying commoners, but if the brigands were to attack again, they would be the first to run.

He raised a hand and sacrificed the last mercenary's corpse. With the death of the final constable loyal to the Magistrate, the Magistrate's violent hold on the town was shattered.