Chapter 45: The Confrontation Begins
  Eld and Marie were heading to Landred’s mansion. While a black haze certainly pervaded the town, there was hardly any around this mansion.
 
  “It’s fine to go in head-on, but are you really sure about entering through the front door?”
 
  “Well, I haven’t been to greet him since I resigned as lord, so it’s a good opportunity, isn’t it?”
 
  Hearing that, Marie sighed.
 
  “How long do you think it’s been since you were forced to resign as lord?”
 
  “Let me see. Two or three months?”
 
  “Besides, if you’re coming as the former lord, wouldn’t it have been better if I was dressed as a maid? I’ve met him a few times in my maid uniform.”
 
  Hearing that, Eld made a face as if he hadn’t thought of it.
 
  “I have a maid outfit, but I won’t wear it. Now, hurry up and knock on the door.”
 
  “Marie has been cold to me lately.”
 
  As Eld reached out to touch the door knocker on the front door, the door opened with a creak. Then, his eyes met with the servant who presumably opened the door.
 
  “Ah, is Landred-san there? Could you please tell him that Eld Faniaal has come to greet him?”
 
  It was so sudden for Eld that he ended up speaking as if he had come to visit a close friend’s house.
 
  “Ah, if it’s Danna-sama, he’s currently……”
 
  When the servant looked back, Landred and Lunatel, who was wearing a cloak, were standing there as if they were about to go out.
 
  “Ah, it’s been a while……”
 
  “Eh, Eld Faniaal!!?? What are you doing here!!??”
 
  Landred shouted at Eld, who was about to bow his head. Eld wondered how to answer and opened his mouth.
 
  “Goddess of Curse, where are you?”
 
  He decided to ask a simple question, figuring that Landred wouldn’t give him a straight answer anyway.
 
  “Wh-Why are you asking that!? Let’s run!!”
 
  Landred took Lunatel and went upstairs.
 
  “Why do things always go our way at times like these?”
 
  Marie said in exasperation. Then, the two of them ran after Landred and Lunatel.
 
  Landred had fled into his office. When Eld and Marie caught up, he was sitting in a chair, arrogantly leaning back.
 
  “Eld Faniaal. What business does an ousted lord have here now?”
 
  Eld was also confused, not quite sure what he wanted to do.
 
  “So, I was asking where the Goddess of Curse is……”
 
  Looking closely, he noticed that the cloaked figure who was with Landred earlier was gone.
 
  “The Goddess of Curse, Lunatel-sama, is behind you!!”
 
  At Landred’s shout, they turned around to see Lunatel swinging down a large scythe. Eld quickly drew Tempera and plunged it into the ground. Ice spread from the point where he stabbed it, trapping Lunatel in ice.
 
  “Hee hee hee, this ice doesn’t hurt or itch at all.”
 
  Lunatel twisted her body, shattering the ice and freeing herself.
 
  “As expected, it’s no use without putting magic power into it.”
 
  Eld said, shouldering Tempera.
 
  “Oh, is that a magic sword?”
 
  “Yes, it is. It’s the magic sword Tempera. Legend has it that it was created to slay a goddess, but is that really true?”
 
  Lunatel laughed at Eld’s question.
 
  “Well, I don’t know if the magic sword suddenly appeared to slay a goddess. But well, if it’s a magic sword, I might be easily cut down by it.”
 
  Lunatel let out a creepy laugh.
 
  “No way, I thought Goddess-sama was invincible.”
 
  Landred shouted from the back of the room.
 
  “Keh keh keh, don’t worry. Even if it can cut me, I’m not so weak that I can be killed by a human. More importantly, Landred, run away quickly. I don’t want to get you involved.”
 
  Hearing that, Landred opened the window and jumped out. Seeing that, Marie hurriedly approached the window and looked outside. A large mat had been laid out below to ensure a safe landing, and Landred had landed on it. He groaned for a while after landing but then started to run away in a hurry.
 
  “Wow, he’s well-prepared. Eld, I’ll go after that old man.”
 
  Saying that, Marie also jumped out of the window.
 
  “Keh keh keh keh keh. He might have been better off being killed by me here.”
 
  “What do you mean?”
 
  “I’ve placed a monster attraction curse on Landred. It won’t harm him, but as for others…… Keh keh keh keh keh keh!”
 
  Lunatel’s eerie laughter echoed throughout the room.