The Lord: Raising a Maiden in the World of Torment

Field put on a harmonious smile as warm as a spring breeze and said, "So, you must be here to escort us, right? Just like the chivalric code says, honouring the valkyrie."

Connor was overjoyed, thinking that Field hadn't figured out his real intentions. He immediately played along, saying, "Ah, yes, yes, of course."

"That's wonderful! Come on down and have a mug of ale before we set off. You'll have plenty of opportunities to show your knightly virtues along the way." Field raised a hand, signalling Ashina to step back. Then, with a nonchalant air, he invited the cavalrymen to join them for a drink.

The mounted soldiers hesitated, torn between their guilty consciences and a sliver of hope.

Facing the Chosen One head-on would likely lead to total annihilation. Running away wasn't an option either—when Ashina had knocked Connor out, she had also seized the Fog Dispersal Lantern. Without it, plunging into the deadly haze was tantamount to suicide.

"It seems the baron hasn't caught on to our plan."

"Exactly. Field's always been an idiot."

Seeing Field's sincere expression reminded the soldiers of his previous displays of kindness and weakness, sparking a faint glimmer of hope in their hearts.

After being persuaded to dismount, they nervously gulped down a few mouthfuls of ale, their tightly wound nerves beginning to ease.

"My lord, I think it's time for us to return and report back," Connor suggested, feigning casualness as he searched for an excuse to slip away.

Field nearly broke his composure—these fools really thought they could fool him.

"Your warhorses have been requisitioned to carry supplies," Field dismissed them nonchalantly, gesturing towards the front of the group. "Once we reach Nightveil, you'll get them back. Now, you did say you'd clear the way for us, didn't you? Off you go—lead the way."

Connor's stomach dropped, and he began to panic. "I've changed my mind! I'm so sorry, but I must hurry back to report! The Count must be growing impatient by now."

Field let out a cold laugh. "Oh, you really don't understand, do you?" He shot a glance at Ashina.

"Crunch!"

Ashina's massive wolf lunged forward, its jaws clamping down on a soldier's head. The sickening sound of bones cracking echoed through the air, drowning out even the terrified gasps of the onlookers. Blood gushed like a fountain as the headless body collapsed to the ground, convulsing violently in its death throes.

Everyone froze—Field's own people included—holding their breath in horror.

The scene was utterly brutal.

"I was wrong! Baron Field!" Connor fell to his knees without hesitation, grovelling. "It was your second sister, Liz, who ordered me to do this!"

Field's smile remained unbroken. "Do I need to repeat myself, Captain Connor? Clear the way ahead, or die here and now."

Cold. Connor felt a chill seep into his very bones.

Where was the kindness everyone talked about? All those stories of Field's soft-heartedness were clearly rubbish. He'd heard other nobles joke that Field was like a timid little lamb—what a joke.

"Bah! Liars, all of them!" Connor cursed fiercely at the traitorous scoundrels who had abandoned him.

Under the threat of the guards' long spears, the eighteen dismounted cavalrymen were quickly herded into a tight formation and forced to march at the front of the group.

Meanwhile, Field's minimap revealed a massive swarm of undead rapidly closing in from ahead.

Letting out a long sigh, Field gritted his teeth and gave the order, "Move out!"

Nightveil was located in the southeastern part of the Northern Province.

With the help of his minimap, Field managed to avoid most of the monsters and took three full days to reach the large estate. The undead in Nightveil seemed endless, something evident from Connor's trembling hands. His blade was chipped, his expression hollow, like a marionette whose strings had long since frayed.

The relentless fighting had completely broken him.

Of the original group of cavalry clearing the way, only Connor remained. Credit where credit was due—being a captain clearly required some skill. Even so, his body was riddled with wounds left by the undead, his flesh grotesquely writhing as corruption spread. He wasn't far from death.

"Put him out of his misery."

As soon as Field spoke, Ashina released her bowstring. The arrow struck true, ending Connor's life in an instant. Moments later, slaves skillfully stepped forward to strip his body of any usable supplies.

"We've reached the Starlight Estate! Finally." Field exhaled deeply as he saw the entrance to the estate.

The crowd cheered in unison.

It was all thanks to Ashina and the minimap.

Without the minimap marking the locations of enemies, Field was certain they never could have made it through. The endless waves of undead along the way would have overwhelmed them entirely.

"This place hasn't seen living souls in ages," Ashina remarked as she stepped forward, tearing apart the thick brambles covering the estate's gates. A piercing creak echoed as the rusted gates groaned and then collapsed with a thunderous crash. Ashina leapt back gracefully, like a cat, squinting as she added awkwardly, "Uh... looks like the gate's going to need some repairs."

The towering, ornate wrought-iron gates, the meticulously crafted stonework, the statues, and the sprawling ornamental garden—all of it was now corrupted into something grotesque and sinister by the grey mist. Yet the lingering elegance and grandeur of its past splendor still shone through.

Two slave guards hauled the fallen gate aside as Field examined the decayed vegetation. Among the tangled mess, he spotted the remains of humans, undead, and other unidentifiable creatures.

The Starlight Estate spanned 30 hectares—roughly the size of 40 football fields.

It included a swimming pool, gardens, workers' quarters, woodlands, barns, a wine cellar, stables, villas, and, at its heart, the main manor.

It was the epitome of luxury, extravagance on an almost incomprehensible scale. After all, Baroness Sophia wasn't just a titleholder—she wielded real power, commanding a prosperous city. Generations of family wealth had cemented an impressive legacy of fixed assets.

And this was just a baron's estate. Rumour had it that Her Majesty, the Empress of the Gryphon Empire, owned a massive estate spanning 500 hectares. Those scenes in Mary Sue novels, where the heroine wakes up on a bed the size of a football field? That might actually be reality for the Empress.

But the larger the estate, the more monsters it was bound to harbor.

"The corruption has been festering here for ten years. Places like the barns and stables hold no value whatsoever," Field said as he pulled out the estate map, comparing it with the layout on his minimap. "Similarly, ornamental areas like the gardens are worthless."

"Should we head straight to clear out the main manor? Or maybe secure one of the villas first?"

The estate, in addition to the main manor, had three smaller villas, designed for the lord's relatives or important guests.

Ashina's excitement was palpable—this was her first time encountering something as grand as a villa.

The slaves were even more overwhelmed, whispering among themselves, their faces brimming with excitement.

For those at the bottom of society, even working in a noble's villa—no matter how menial the task, even sweeping the floors—was enough to boast about for a lifetime. It could become a story to proudly pass down to their children on their deathbeds.

Field stared at the distant main manor for a while. The shattered windows seemed alive with shifting shadows. Suddenly, an oppressive feeling washed over him, as though something unseen was watching him. His chest tightened, as if a heavy weight had been placed upon it, making his breathing quicken involuntarily.

"There might be something truly terrifying in the main manor. Best not to provoke it for now," Field quickly averted his gaze, rubbing his temples as he glanced at his minimap.

The map was marked with numerous skull icons, representing corrupted monsters. But what stood out most was a massive red dot located in the basement of the main manor.

"Skulls represent corrupted creatures. But what does that red dot signify? Probably some kind of demon," he speculated.