Chapter 244 Plans And Actions Taken

Upon arriving in Osto, the carriage went straight towards the back entrance to the Viscount's estate, entering from there and heading straight to the Viscount's mansion without being noticed by the residents of any of the other mansions in the estate.

'I'm guessing he doesn't want the vassals to know his daughter is back, huh?

Perhaps some of them have already betrayed him for Terence. In that case, it'd make a lot more sense how Terence was able to discover the Viscount's movements so easily.'

Sighing upon seeing a similar situation to what was currently going on in Cheverton, Evan got down from the carriage and looked around, giving the Perhorn family a little time for a reunion.

Afterwards, Evan and the Viscount officially greeted each other and went over light introductions before they all entered the mansion.

The Viscount was a fairly handsome middle-aged man with brown eyes and short black hair. He was dressed in a simple noble cloak with rolled-up sleeves and ink-stained hands.

Appraising him, Evan saw that the man was fairly strong with a level of 158, which was not surprising at all.

'I guess even if they are dungeon city lords, they're still a difference, huh?'

Evan remembered his appraisal result of Count Merdin, the dungeon city lord he met more than a year ago that revealed a level a bit over 300 and heaved a sigh as he waited for Sir Enro to brief the Viscount on all that happened.

When the knight leader was done, beads of sweat were dripping off his forehead as the cold gazes of the Viscount and his wife were too heavy to bear.

This was only natural, considering he had failed to protect his lord's daughter. In some countries, he would have been executed the moment he gave such a report.

However, Evan interrupted before the Viscount could say a verdict.

"It's okay to punish your knight and all, but can you postpone it for now?"

"..."

The Viscount went silent for a bit before dismissing Sir Enro, not before taking away the 'Sir' from his name.

The Viscountess took her daughter away afterwards, leaving the Viscount alone with the 'Anomalies'.

"Now, then. Shall we discuss how we're going to deal with Terence?"

Narrowing his eyes at Evan, the Viscount asked with a flat tone."

"And how exactly do you hope to achieve this?"

Hearing his question, Evan spoke up about the not-so-detailed plan he had come up with Pride on the way to the Viscount's mansion.

It wasn't all that complicated, just that Evan would act conspicuous and draw Terence out towards him, and then Pride shows up and handles Greed who would most likely be with Terence while Evan deals with Terence himself.

It would be best if Pride can get Greed to make Terence quit his terrorism of Osto without a fight but Evan had low expectations for that possibility.

Besides, Pride had explicitly stated that a fight with Greed was unavoidable as she had done something she knew he would most definitely hate and that was pretty much the same as provoking him to a fight.

"Just what on Aidos did you do?"

"Nothing serious. I just sealed away part of the reason I'm called the Sin of Pride."

The high demon casually replied like it was nothing but Evan knew that for it to make Greed, one of the seven deadly sins who pretty much always listened to Pride, want to attack her.

"On the good side, Terence would not be able to use his power since Greed would be too busy dealing with me to spare any energy on him."

Evan nodded in affirmation before turning to the obviously confused Viscount and giving him a quick summary of the relationship between Evan, Pride, Terence and Greed.

There was the other plan of going directly to where Terence was but the Viscount sadly admitted that he had no idea of where Terence currently was.

"He has been changing his location quite frequently after the failed subjugation attempt. So, attacking him isn't exactly an option for us.

All the areas he's been residing in are usually close to where civilians are so any wrong moves and hundreds of people would die.

I can't have that."

Seeing as attacking Terence wasn't feasible, they decided to go with the plan of drawing him out.

After that, they discussed a few other things like how the knights would evacuate the citizens when Evan and Terence started battling it out in order to prevent civilian casualties and a few other things before deciding to call it a day.

The viscount prepared guest rooms for them so they didn't have to go look for an inn to stay in, saving them time and money.

He went on to be a hospitable host by providing them with meals and giving them rooms that had proper bathing facilities.

As they were having their dinner in their rooms after bathing, Evan tried to find out exactly what Pride did that made her so sure that Greed would be pissed off about.

"Remember when I told you I sealed away one of my titles?"

"Yeah. What about it?"

"Since that title is connected to our 'power' as the 'Seven Deadly Sins', it is possible for us to sense when it's not active.

Simply put, the moment Greed glances at me, he'd be able to tell what I did and he would not like it.

We all do take pride in being the 'Seven Deadly Sins' so the action of sealing away something related to that is not something that any of my siblings would like."

Hearing her words, Evan nodded in understanding.

"And unsealing it isn't really an option, huh?"

"Would you like a few mental status effects?"

"No, thank you."

Evan possessed Mental Resistance now, courtesy of his adaptive Evolution, yet Pride still asked that question confidently despite knowing about his resistance.

That alone was enough to make him realise that the consequences of her unsealing the title currently should be more than he can handle.

'Besides, she said status 'effects', meaning more than one status effect. One alone was already a hassle, can't even imagine how multiple would be.'

"It's not really a bad title, for me, that is. However, its effects are considered negative for you and Amy who are contracted to me so I'd keep it sealed until I can deal with those side effects.

It's part of the reason why I don't use my idiosyncrasy too."

After saying her piece, Pride stood up and left the room, not before shooting a glare at Evan and Eliza.

"Huh?"

The battle priestess was naturally confused upon suddenly being glared at but Pride had already left the room before she could even ask why.

Evan on the other hand, looked at him and Eliza and instantly figured out why Pride had done that.

At some point in time during their conversation, the two of them had moved to the sofa in the room and were half laying on it together. Eliza sat on Evan's lap as she sipped her hot chocolate while Evan had his arms wrapped around her waist and his chin resting on her shoulder.

"Don't worry too much about it, Liz."

"...okay?"

The young hero only ran his hand through her hair a bit as he watched her go back to her drink with a small smile on his face.

◇ ◇ ◇

The next morning, after taking a bath and having breakfast, the group began the day's agenda; Drawing out Terence and Greed behind him.

Evan dressed up looking as casual as always, however, for today he tossed on a set of flashy full-body armour that screamed 'EXPENSIVE', coupled with an ornamental sword that was decorated with various jewels on its hilt.

He then pulled out a bag of gold coins from his inventory and poured its contents into a knapsack on his back, before leaving the Viscount's estate and sauntering into the streets of Osto.

Naturally, his appearance plus the obvious clinking sound the gold coins made as they tossed around in his bag and hit his armour, drew in the attention of pretty much everyone waking on the road.

"What's with this kid?"

"Is he a noble's son?"

"Why would he dress like that during this kind of time?!"

"Exactly, doesn't he know about Greedy Red?"

The young hero could hear the questions of the passer-bys but he paid them no mind as he kept a proud expression on his face and sauntered towards the city's entertainment district.

From the corner of his eyes, he caught sight of two thugs who eyed him silently, before turning around and running in another direction.

'That's the area where the Viscount said Terence most likely is.'

Evan took note of this as he opened the doors of a random bar, confidently walking inside without a care in the world as he walked up to the counter and took a seat on one of the stools there.