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Chapter 66: The Death Of Dial Canberra? by Harem-Fan

     Overhead flying in the Beast Forest, a large cold shadow flies throughout the sky...

     Whoosh Bang Bang Bang~! In a path hundreds of feet wide and long, freezing snow with ice chunks pelted all beasts in the area. Cries of despair and panic filled the area as hundreds of strong Demonic Beasts fled for their lives.

     [Hohoho~! Scatter you useless rabble, for my Master's, Master comes! Do not slow down his good deeds of conquering that Evil woman's heart, hehehe~!]

     Around 50 miles ahead of the Southern procession, a large 300 foot long Dracolich has killed or terrorized the area leading to the rest center for travelers.

     Falbium even killed a few Mercenaries who did not know himself, for they were not good meat-bags.

     [You weak meat-bags want to wait in ambush, huh? If you don't fear that little girl of 9th Circle, you think I am invisible? Phht, So funny, so just die...]

     And unknown to anyone, the Mercenary company hired by Douglas Canberra for a massive sum, never even saw the face of Sam Roland.

     Their job this time was to kill Sam while the others distracted the High Circle Teachers, then kill the secondary target of Dial Canberra, the client's Sister.

     Boom~! And as Falbium's tail came down on the 8th Circle Knight Leader, he growled.

     [Now that you refused to talk, let me animate you and find out everything... [Area Death Utility] rise minion!]

     As grey mist covered all of the mercenaries, they all had their flesh and muscles rot fast, leaving only white bones covered with their armor and weaponry.

     The Leader with flickering red light in his eye sockets, knelt on one knee and said with every other newly created Death Knight and Lich.

     [[[[[[[[[[We greet Master!]]]]]]]]]]

     [Heh~! Now tell me who hired you and for what?]

     The Leader Death Knight, with his Longsword in hand and Shield on the ground, told all...

     [My Master, our group was hired by the Son of the West Duke to Kill both Sam Roland and Dial Canberra. We were to distract the stronger Teachers and Queen, hit and run.]

     Falbium's green flames flickered coldly as he asked his minion.

     [Who took part in this job, and what was paid? Did the Duke orchestrate this attack?]

     [Back to Master... The Duke once planned to use us, but he said there would be no more attacks on Sam Roland anymore... The Duke's Son Douglas hired us behind his Father's back, and planned on blaming his Father for this crime, while killing his Sister, leaving the entire Dukedom for himself and the Von-Crane House to rule.]

     If Falbium could smile, his grin would be priceless, but his tail swayed from side to side, showing his joy in uncovering something good.

     [Master, and here is the 100,000 gold the Prince Canberra paid us.]

     Falbium's massive claw reached down and took a storage bag with all of the mercenary's wealth, and gave orders.

     [Now take all of your men, and clear all the beasts within 10 miles of the path southward, but do not attack the humans along the way or the rest areas. When you are done with that, travel south to the Undead Lands and kill all Undead till you are no more, good luck!]

     [[[[[[[[[[Yes Master!]]]]]]]]]]

     And that is how a group of 50 very strong Undead caused utter chaos and destruction in the Beast Forest for a couple days...

     Falbium opened a Gate to Rosecrans island and said to himself.

     [Hehe, This is enough gold to make her leave the island for a few days to gamble, then I can sleep peacefully... Who is cruel enough to make a mighty Dragon do tricks, Humph~!]

     As the large creatures vanished, screams and roars were left as the Beast Forest was in distress...

-

     "Mage Queen, it is very strange... All of the scouting Knights have found powerful Demonic Beast bodies and signs of a cruel Monster passing by ahead."

     The Southern Royal Knight Commander had a bead of sweat on his forehead while reporting this odd news to his cold Mage Queen.

     "We have encountered not even a squirrel, or any Monster... It is as if a powerful Monster is trying to beat us home... We are worried that the rest area might be destroyed by the time we get there, your orders my Queen?"

     Salem, next to his Sister hearing the report, was also baffled. As a fan of Knights and Adventurers, he asked the question his twin Sister did not think of...

     "Were the Beast Cores or valuable beast parts removed or eaten?"

     "Not a single one Sir, our knights took the opportunity to recover them. It seems whatever did this cared not for those precious things, and only had death and destruction in its eyes."

     Salinas waved her soft hand and said coldly.

     "Just recover the loot, and if danger comes, I can handle it, so stop panicking, now go..."

     Her words assured the Knight Commander, and he left to do his work...

     In reality, she would have prostrated in-front of that threat the moment she saw it, begging to pass.

-

     Zoe was looking out the window into the forest as it passed, and she thought about this time period.

     Back then, she was not brought on this trip as Sam's Summons, but a student who was clumsy and naive. She remembers Sister Kayo was now Sam's second Summons, and she remembered the trip down was peaceful. Later in life, she heard from Falbium how he crushed everything for Sam ahead of time.

     Naturally back then, Zoe did not understand what changes it brought. But she remembered this was the trip where Dial Canberra was murdered by her crazy Brother in the Undead test.

     When she died unfairly, Sam had to witness the betrayal and was unable to help Dial who died unfairly. In the end, Dial betrayed her family to alert Sam, but Sam did not trust her, and she only died with a sad smile on her face.

     Zoe remembered her sad smile back then. During the Royal Ball, the Duke had talked with Sam privately, but Sam rejected his offer...

     Like with Daniella, Zoe wanted to tell Sam to accept the offer, but if he did then Douglas may not act on this trip and expose the evil plans.

     Because Dial was killed and pinned on Sam, the Duke lost his reasoning, and plotted rebellion, due to grief and madness. Even when his Son's and Duke's Wife's (Douglas's Mother) crimes were shown to the West Duke, it no longer mattered, because he was getting revenge for Dial.

     The Duke was or is a snake, but he was not actually evil and supported Leonardo with gritted teeth, but when his only child was killed, he was turned truly evil.

     Zoe always has to think about how to make her Husband's path better. Back in her first go in this test, she had the ability to raise Dial back with a [Breath of Life] but Sam was convinced of her sinister ways and let her die for good.

     Looking back, that was the worst outcome for Sam, because Dial fell in love with Sam at the end of her life...

     When Sam read her diary of her last few days during their adventure, his heart ached letting her die. And unlike now, she had not reached 9th Circle and could not cast the [Raise Dead] spell to bring Dial back.

     It was one of the few regrets Sam cried over.

     But then suddenly, Zoe's lips curled into a sly smile remembering what awaits Sam tonight at the rest area...@@novelbin@@

     "So, how will little Sister Phoenix treat Master this time with little Sister Daniella not rejected? Hehe..."

-

     I was holding Kayo in my arm, while drinking a glass of whisky, and talking to Nevin.

     And when I noticed Zoe across from me, giggling like a troublemaker, I felt that whatever was running through her mind was not going to be good for me.

     Nevin smacked his forehead and said to me with surprise.

     "Wow, it slipped my mind... Guess who Chuck Donald was paired with for this examination?!"

     I always think of a fat Elvis when I see that fun guy, so I asked.

     "What unlucky girl was partnered with our Dark Knight baddie?"

     Nevin said with a grin.

     "That Duke's daughter we saved at Still Water... Um, I think her name is Dial Canberra."

     I was a bit surprised about that pairing... Well, Chuck is a big time noble family, so protecting the Princess Dial was not a bad thing, he is a 3rd Circle Vanguard Knight, and it pairs well with a Summoner.

     Zoe across from me had a surprised look in her pale eyes.

     I was unaware that Chuck had died in the past of Zoe, so the partner change surprised her a lot, but Zoe asked me.

     "Master, I think with Chuck, getting closer to Dial is a good option. That way you have a reason to watch her, right?"

     Zoe hid her excitement at this unexpected development, like Fate was on her side. Making more contact with Dial early can change her and my fate. Who knew saving Chuck in this life would prove to be a very good choice.

     (Unknown to Zoe, Chuck proves to be a variable she could have never expected.)

     I say to Zoe with a nod.

     "Good idea, because I felt something was wrong when the West Duke and Dial wanted us to get married, to make the Duke house be closer to the King and Rosecrans. I just cannot believe that Dial and her Brother have anything good planned for me."

     Zoe had her eyes sparkle at my agreement, and she said.

     "No one can trick my Master while Zoe is around, haha." (Cough, except Zoe.)

-

     In another less fancy carriage, a group of nobles rode together, looking out the window.

     Dial Canberra was just thinking about the night of the Ball, and understanding her request was definitely out of the blue. But seeing Sam accept that West Princess even after being attacked by her, confused her heart.

     Feeling her neck that had been gripped by her Brother back at Still Water, made her have nightmares for months. Her only thought was to have Sam protect her from Douglas, who has become more unstable lately.

     Munch Munch~! Dial's messy thoughts were disrupted by her partner for this test, a large chubby black haired noble of the Douglas family. Chuck had his mouth full of a ham sandwich, and his beady black eyes looked happy, as crumbs fell.

     Dial asked him out of curiosity.

     "Hey, are you really friends with Sam?"

     Chuck was surprised this arrogant Mage woman finally talked to him, but he squinted his eyes and said after swallowing.

     "We are life and death brothers. He and I trade secrets, and he relies on my cunning.. Hehe, If it were not for me, Sam would not have half of his success with women. He comes to me for advice on every campaign. Even his Brother Nevin and Frank are my followers."

     Dial was surprised, because she does know this guy was with Sam in the Beast Forest and the Still Water battle. And admittedly, Sam's luck with women seems to be very good. She asked.

     "Has Sam said anything good or bad about me? I proposed marriage to him, and he turned me down?"

     Chuck, not knowing all the details, just bull-shits. His eyes scanned Dial's curves, and thought she was definitely Sam's type, so he lied.

     "It is because of your Brother and that Succubi Queen Wife of his... I once heard Sam say he thought you were one of the North's most beautiful ladies. And when I mentioned you, he smiled, hehe. You know what I mean..."

     "You mean that Sam is attracted to me? So he did not turn me down because of my looks?"

     The one thing Chuck is confident about was, Sam would like this chick on her back, as a fellow lover of women, he said without lying.

     "Sam is weak to persistent women, just look at Rebeca and Mari, hehe."

     Dial felt a glimmer of hope.... She can get protection from her Brother, and even try to still become one of Sam's harem. She just has to be honest with Sam and betray her Family if need be.

     She asked in line with Zoe's plans...

     "Chuck, since you are close with Sam, can you help me try and make things better? If Sam forgives and accepts me, I can help you with any favor. I can even introduce you to many noble women in my Fathers territory?"

     Chuck put his ham sandwich down and said with his fist on his heart.

     "As long as the women are pretty, you got a deal!"

     "Very pretty!"

     "Leave it to Chuck, the love matchmaker, hehe."

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